NEED TO KNOW
A rare partial lunar eclipse will peak overnight on Aug. 27-28, covering 96.3% of the moon in Earth’s shadow
Saturn will appear as a bright golden point near the moon during the eclipse, visible across much of the Americas
The eclipse is safe to view without special equipment and will last several hours, offering ample time for stargazing
So much for that early bedtime, stargazers!
Be sure to keep your eyes on the moon this week, because a rare ‘blood moon’ lunar eclipse is underway.
After an action-packed month in the cosmos — featuring a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, northern lights and the Perseid meteor shower — the sky says, “The show must go on!”
On Aug. 27 into the early morning hours of Aug. 28, a deep partial lunar eclipse will peak overnight. At its maximum, about 96.3 percent of the lunar disk will sit inside Earth’s umbra, the darkest central portion of our planet’s shadow.
As a result, most of the Sturgeon Moon could deepen into muted shades of copper, rust and brown, while a slim silver edge remains illuminated by direct sunlight.
Unlike a shimmery meteor that can disappear before you can unlock your smartphone, an eclipse’s transformation can develop over several hours, allowing you to return to the moon, in and see how dramatically it’s changed.
As if this weren’t enough reason to look up, Saturn will also be visible in the same broad region of the night sky, glimmering as a steady, golden point to the moon’s lower left after it rises as an evening star.
Keep in mind, the taskmaster planet will not be in an especially tight conjunction with the moon during the eclipse.
The two, however, will appear in close proximity to each other on Aug. 29 and 30, per EarthSky.org.
For now, here’s everything you need to know about when, where and how to witness this stellar event.
When is August’s partial lunar eclipse?
lunar eclipse
Credit: LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty
Are you ready to witness this rare cosmic phenomenon?
This month’s partial lunar eclipse begins on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 27, for viewers across the Americas and continues into the early hours of Friday, Aug. 28, for those further east.
Here’s a closer look at the eclipse timeline per Time and Date and NASA:
9:23 p.m. ET: The penumbral eclipse begins. Earth’s lighter outer shadow touches the moon, although the initial dimming may be difficult to detect.
10:33 p.m. ET: The partial eclipse begins. Earth’s darker umbral shadow starts visibly covering the lunar surface.
12:12 a.m. ET: The eclipse reaches its maximum, with 96.2% of the moon inside Earth’s umbra.
1:51 a.m. ET: The partial eclipse ends.
3:01 a.m. ET: The penumbral phase ends and the eclipse is over.
For viewers on the West Coast, the partial phase begins at approximately 7:34 p.m. PT, with its maximum occurring at 9:13 p.m. PT. Still, depending on your location on the planet, the moon may already be eclipsed when it rises.
When will Saturn be visible?
The planet Saturn
Credit: Getty
Did you know that “Father Time” is also making a cameo?
For much of the United States, Saturn will rise later in the evening, a few hours after sunset, appearing as a bright, steady point of light to the lower left of the moon. The planet becomes easier to identify as the sky darkens, making the best time for viewing during the late-night and early-morning hours.
Still, it’s important to note that Saturn and the moon will not be particularly close during the eclipse.
Where will the partial lunar eclipse be visible?
Partial lunar eclipse
Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty
The lunar eclipse will be visible across the night sky, so be sure to look up!
According to NASA, the deep partial phase can be seen throughout the Americas, except from Alaska and northwestern Canada, as well as from portions of western Europe and western Africa, if weather conditions allow.
Where will Saturn be visible?
The eclipse isn’t the only cosmic event in store!
According to Space.com, Saturn will be visible from locations where it’s nighttime and the planet is above the horizon, including much of the Americas, Europe and Africa.
If you’re located in the United States, look toward the eastern to southeastern sky after Saturn rises as an evening star. However, as the night progresses, the planet will travel higher and further south.
How to watch the partial lunar eclipse?
Astronomer with a telescope
Credit: Getty
No eclipse glasses or specialized equipment will be necessary!
Contrary to a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye. The key is to choose a spot with a wide, unobstructed view of the moon and check the cloud forecast before heading out.
Dark skies are always lovely, but you don’t need to leave the city to witness this stellar event. In fact, the moon is bright enough to remain visible through moderate light pollution.
If you have a pair of binoculars, this can help make the boundary between shadow and sunlight look sharper, while a small telescope can reveal the changing colors and details within the individual lunar craters.
How to photograph the partial lunar eclipse?
Grab a tripod and get to work!
This is the easiest way to keep the view of the moon sharp and clear, especially as the eclipsed portion becomes darker, requiring a longer exposure. For this, you can use a remote shutter or your camera’s timer to avoid shaking it when you take the photograph.
On that note, if you’re using a smartphone, be sure to secure it to a stable surface, turn off the flash and tap the moon on the screen to reduce the exposure. Avoid relying too heavily on the zoom option, as this can make the image look blurry or pixelated.
When is the next lunar eclipse?
The next lunar eclipse will occur on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, 2027, but this will be a penumbral eclipse.
A penumbral eclipse occurs when the moon moves through the light outer portion of Earth’s shadow, producing a much more subtle dimming, as opposed to the deep, coppery partial eclipse arriving this August.
Read the original article on People