Skywatchers across North and South America are preparing for a deep partial lunar eclipse on the night of August 27-28 according to CBC. The astronomical event serves as the closing act of a dramatic two-part celestial show, following a total solar eclipse that occurred on August 12 over parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and a small portion of Portugal according to Space.
Partial Lunar Eclipse Set for August 27-28
During the phenomenon, Earth will pass between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. Lunar eclipses occur when the moon moves through Earth’s umbra, or inner shadow, preceded by its outer, dimmer shadow known as the penumbra according to CBC. While estimates vary slightly by specific calculations, the event will plunge roughly 93 to 96 percent of the moon’s surface into darkness at its deepest point according to CBC, according to Space.
Timeline of Eclipse Stages
The progression of the eclipse unfolds across several distinct stages on the night of August 27 into the early hours of August 28 according to Space, according to Primetimer:
- 9:23 p.m. EDT (August 27): The eclipse officially begins as Earth’s outer penumbral shadow touches the moon, creating a very subtle and easily missed change in brightness according to Space, according to Primetimer.
- 10:33 p.m. EDT (August 27): The partial lunar eclipse phase begins as Earth’s dark inner shadow becomes clearly visible, creating a distinct curved dark spot or “bite” on the lunar disk according to CBC, according to Primetimer.
- 12:12 a.m. EDT (August 28): The eclipse reaches its maximum peak, with the vast majority of the moon enveloped by Earth’s interior shadow while a small portion remains illuminated according to Space, according to Primetimer.
- 1:51 a.m. EDT (August 28): The last vestige of Earth’s inner shadow departs the lunar surface, and the reddish hue fades as normal brightness returns according to Space, according to Primetimer.
- 3:01 a.m. EDT (August 28): Earth’s outer penumbral shadow completely exits the moon, officially bringing the eclipse event to an end according to Space, according to Primetimer.
Viewing Details and Visual Effects
Unlike solar eclipses, observing a lunar eclipse carries no safety risks for human eyes. This is a naked eye object, but if you have binoculars or a small telescope or just a [cellphone] camera with a really good night mode, you should be able to get pretty good pictures,
said Elaina Hyde, director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at York University’s department of physics and astronomy in Toronto according to CBC.
Because the event is a partial eclipse rather than a full total eclipse, the moon will not turn 100 percent red, though it will still display a distinct coppery or reddish hue at its peak as the shadow obstructs direct sunlight according to CBC, according to Primetimer. This coloration occurs as the lunar disk bathes in the red-orange refracted light of sunrises and sunsets happening across Earth at that moment according to Primetimer. Observers will be viewing August’s full moon, traditionally referred to in North America as the “Sturgeon Moon” according to Space.
