On the night of August 27-28, a significant partial lunar eclipse will be visible throughout the United States. This eclipse follows closely after the recent total solar eclipse witnessed in Iceland, Spain, and a portion of Portugal. The upcoming lunar eclipse will be a deep one, with a maximum coverage of 93 percent.
Lunar eclipses occur when the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. Before reaching the umbra, the moon traverses through Earth’s outer, fainter shadow called the penumbra, which is challenging to observe with the naked eye due to its dimness.
Most regions in Canada will have the opportunity to witness the entire eclipse duration, while Western Canada will catch the partial eclipse already in progress as the moon ascends.
Unlike solar eclipses that require protective eyewear, lunar eclipses can be observed without any special equipment. Additionally, a lunar eclipse unfolds over hours, offering a prolonged viewing experience compared to the brief duration of a solar eclipse.
The lunar eclipse on August 27-28 will be visible across North and South America. The event will commence as the moon enters Earth’s penumbra around 10 p.m. ET, with the visible phase starting at 10:33 p.m. ET on August 27 and concluding at 1:52 a.m. on August 28. The deepest eclipse point will occur at 12:13 a.m., with most of the moon appearing darkened.
This celestial event is one of several noteworthy astronomical occurrences happening this month. Elaina Hyde, the director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at York University’s department of physics and astronomy in Toronto, highlighted the series of astronomical events in August, including the partial solar eclipse on August 12, the Perseids meteor shower, and the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction.
While the upcoming eclipse is a partial one and may not result in a fully red moon, it is expected to display a reddish hue in certain Canadian regions. Lunar eclipses offer a spectacle that can be enjoyed with the naked eye, and observers with binoculars, a small telescope, or a smartphone with an excellent night mode can capture impressive images of the event.