A deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible across Texas Thursday night as Earth\u2019s shadow covers more than 96% of the moon.<\/p>\n
In Dallas, the visible partial phase will begin at approximately 9:33 p.m., reach its maximum at 11:12 p.m., and end at 12:51 a.m. Friday. The eclipse can be viewed safely without protective eyewear.<\/p>\n
Moon Will Fall Just Short of Total Eclipse<\/p>\n
NASA describes the August 27-28 event as a \u201cnot-quite-total\u201d lunar eclipse because a narrow portion of the moon will remain outside Earth\u2019s darkest shadow.<\/p>\n
At the moment of greatest eclipse, 96.3%<\/a> of the moon\u2019s disk will be inside Earth\u2019s umbra, the central section of its shadow where the sun is completely blocked by Earth, according to NASA\u2019s Scientific Visualization Studio.<\/p>\n Because a small portion of the moon will remain directly illuminated, the event is classified as a partial eclipse rather than a total lunar eclipse. Viewers may see a bright sliver along the moon\u2019s edge while the shadowed portion appears copper, red, brown, or dark gray.<\/p>\n The moon\u2019s precise appearance will depend partly on conditions in Earth\u2019s atmosphere.<\/p>\n When to Watch in Dallas<\/p>\n The eclipse\u2019s first stage will begin in Dallas at 8:23 p.m. Thursday when the moon enters the penumbra, the lighter outer section of Earth\u2019s shadow. The initial dimming may be difficult to notice.<\/p>\n