On the night of August 27-28, a significant partial lunar eclipse will be visible throughout the country. This event follows the recent total solar eclipse witnessed in Iceland, Spain, and a portion of Portugal about two weeks ago.
The upcoming lunar eclipse will be a deep partial one, with 93% coverage at its peak. Lunar eclipses happen when the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, known as its umbra. Before reaching the umbra, the moon first moves through Earth’s outer, fainter shadow called the penumbra, which is hard to observe with the naked eye due to its dimness.
Most regions in Canada will have a clear view of the entire eclipse duration, while Western Canada will witness the partial eclipse already in progress as the moon rises.
Unlike solar eclipses, no protective eyewear is necessary to view a lunar eclipse. Moreover, lunar eclipses occur over hours, unlike the brief duration of a solar eclipse.
The eclipse will commence as the moon enters Earth’s penumbra around 10 p.m. ET, but the visible phase begins at 10:33 p.m. ET on August 27 and concludes at 1:52 a.m. on August 28. The deepest point of the eclipse is expected at 12:13 a.m., with almost the entire moon appearing darkened.
This lunar eclipse is just one of several celestial events happening this month. According to Elaina Hyde, the director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at York University in Toronto, August has been a remarkable month for astronomical events, including a partial solar eclipse, the Perseids meteor shower, and the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction.
While this eclipse will not result in a “blood moon,” it will still exhibit a significant reddish hue in some areas of Canada. Lunar eclipses offer a spectacle that can be enjoyed with just the naked eye, although binoculars, a small telescope, or a phone camera with night mode can capture impressive images.