Skywatchers across North America are preparing for a partial lunar eclipse scheduled for late Thursday night, Aug. 27, into the early morning hours of Friday, Aug. 28, according to The Weather Company. This celestial event marks the best lunar eclipse viewing opportunity for most of the United States until June 2029, as reported by FOX Weather.
Timing and Visibility of the August Lunar Eclipse
During the event, the Earth will pass between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface. Because the Earth, moon, and sun are not perfectly aligned in a partial eclipse, viewers will see the shadow grow over the moon and then recede before fully covering it. However, the moon will track so deeply into Earth’s shadow that the obscured portion will take on a dramatic rusty, coppery, or reddish tint similar to a traditional blood moon. At the eclipse’s peak, between 96.2% and 96.3% of the lunar disc will be shrouded within Earth’s umbra.
The eclipse timeline follows a precise progression:
- 9:23 p.m. ET: Penumbral eclipse begins as the moon enters the outer part of Earth’s shadow.
- 10:33 p.m. ET: Partial eclipse begins as Earth’s shadow starts to envelop the lunar surface.
- 12:12 a.m. ET (or 12:13 a.m. EDT): Maximum eclipse peak.
- 3:01 a.m. ET: Penumbral eclipse ends as the moon exits the outer edge of Earth’s shadow.
Viewers in eastern North America and South America will see the eclipse fully, while those in the western U.S., western Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii will watch the moon rising during the event on the evening of August 27. Most viewers across North and South America can watch every stage, with the exception of those in Alaska and the northernmost reaches of Canada.
U.S. Weather Forecast and Cloud Cover Expectations
Weather conditions will play a significant role in determining who gets a clear view of the night sky. A heat dome anchored in the Southwest is expected to bring sinking and stable air that hinders cloud development, keeping skies clearer near its center and offering a viewing boost, according to The Weather Company. However, areas near the outer rim of the heat dome may experience clouds, rain, and storms.
Regional weather prospects vary significantly across the country:
- Northeast: Most forecast models suggest scattered showers and thunderstorms from the mid-Atlantic to New England, which may create intermittent viewing hurdles.
- South: Scattered showers and storms are possible from Virginia and the Carolinas down to Florida and the lower Mississippi Valley, though they may remain scattered enough to allow viewing for most in the Southern Plains, particularly in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas.
- Midwest: Much of the region could experience relatively good viewing conditions, though the exception involves parts of the Central and Southern Plains where scattered thunderstorms could rumble over Nebraska and Kansas, sending clouds over Iowa and Missouri.
- West: The Northwest and parts of the Four Corners anticipate great viewing conditions, while cloudy skies may roll into California, Nevada, Utah, and Montana.
Overall, FOX Weather notes that the best regions for viewing the partial eclipse are the Midwest and the West Coast, while the most challenging conditions are anticipated in the Northeast and Southeast.
How to Safely Observe the Celestial Event
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses can be viewed safely with the naked eye because observers are watching reflected sunlight bouncing off the moon, eliminating the need for specialized safety glasses or viewing tools.
Astronomers and observers can enhance their experience by utilizing binoculars or telescopes for more dramatic views of the lunar surface. To optimize viewing conditions, observers should try to minimize light near their viewing area and set up early in the evening—ideally by 7 p.m.—to catch the event from start to finish as summer comes to a close.
