Look up tonight. A deep partial lunar eclipse, often called a Blood Moon, unfolds overnight on August 27 and 28. It will be visible across much of North and South America, and in parts of Europe, Africa, and the Pacific.
At peak, about 93 percent of the Moon’s diameter sits inside Earth’s umbra, the dark core of the planet’s shadow. A thin sliver stays lit, so the eclipse does not become total.
In Eastern Time the penumbral phase begins around 9:23 p.m. on August 27. The obvious partial phase starts near 10:34 p.m., when the dark shadow begins to cross the lunar disk. Maximum eclipse is about 12:13 a.m. on August 28, which is 9:13 p.m. Pacific Time on the 27th. The partial phase ends near 1:52 a.m. EDT. The whole event finishes around 3:01 a.m. EDT.
From start to finish the eclipse lasts about five hours and 38 minutes. The clearly visible partial phase lasts about three hours and 18 minutes.
The shadowed Moon can look rusty orange or red. Sunlight that skims Earth’s edge passes through the atmosphere. Blue light scatters away. Red and orange light bend toward the Moon. That is the same reason sunrises and sunsets look red. The eclipsed Moon is lit by the combined glow of every sunrise and sunset around Earth at that moment.
A lunar eclipse is safe to watch with the naked eye. No special glasses are needed. Binoculars or a small telescope show more detail. If the Moon is rising or setting during the eclipse, choose an open spot with a clear view of the horizon.
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