On the night of August 27-28, a significant partial lunar eclipse will be visible across Canada. This event follows a total solar eclipse observed in Iceland, Spain, and a portion of Portugal about two weeks ago. The upcoming partial eclipse will have a substantial 93 percent coverage at its peak.
Lunar eclipses occur when the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, known as its umbra. Before entering the umbra, the moon crosses through the outer, fainter shadow called the penumbra, although it is challenging to see with the naked eye due to its dimness.
Most regions in Canada will witness the entire eclipse duration, with Western Canada already seeing the partial eclipse as the moon rises. Unlike solar eclipses, no protective eyewear is necessary to observe a lunar eclipse, and the event unfolds over hours rather than minutes.
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 part of the eclipse, where most of the moon will appear darkened, will occur at 12:13 a.m.
Elaina Hyde, director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at York University, pointed out the plethora of astronomical events happening this month, including the recent partial solar eclipse, the Perseids meteor shower, and the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction.
Hyde noted that although the partial eclipse will not result in a completely red moon, it may appear considerably red depending on the observer’s location in Canada. Lunar eclipses are easily observable with the naked eye, but binoculars, a small telescope, or a smartphone with a good night mode can capture impressive images of the event.