On the night of August 27-28, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible throughout the country. This eclipse follows the recent total solar eclipse observed in Iceland, Spain, and a portion of Portugal. Despite being partial, the upcoming eclipse will have deep coverage, reaching 93 percent at its peak.
During lunar eclipses, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. Prior to entering the umbra, it traverses through Earth’s outer, fainter shadow called the penumbra, which is challenging to observe with the naked eye due to its dimness.
Most regions in Canada will witness the entire eclipse duration, with Western Canada catching the partial eclipse as the moon rises. Unlike solar eclipses, no protective eyewear is required to view the lunar eclipse, which unfolds over several hours rather than minutes.
The eclipse will start when the moon enters Earth’s penumbra around 10 p.m. ET, with the visible part commencing at 10:33 p.m. ET on August 27 and concluding at 1:52 a.m. on August 28. The deepest phase will occur at 12:13 a.m., darkening most of the moon’s surface.
This event is part of a series of astronomical phenomena this month. Elaina Hyde, director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at York University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy in Toronto, highlighted the various celestial events in August, including the recent partial solar eclipse and the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction.
Regarding the lunar eclipse, while it won’t turn completely red, certain areas in Canada may witness a reddish hue. Lunar eclipses are easily observable with the naked eye, but binoculars, a small telescope, or a smartphone with a good night mode can enhance the viewing experience and capture quality images.