On the night of August 27-28, people across the country can witness a partial lunar eclipse. This event follows a total solar eclipse that occurred about two weeks ago and was visible in Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. The upcoming partial lunar eclipse will have significant coverage, reaching 93% at its peak.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through two shadows of the Earth: the penumbra, a dimmer outer shadow, and the umbra, a darker inner shadow. While the penumbra phase is challenging to observe with the naked eye due to its faintness, the moon will eventually move into the umbra during this eclipse.
Most regions in Canada will have a complete view of the eclipse, with Western Canada already witnessing the partial eclipse as the moon rises. Unlike solar eclipses that require protective eyewear, lunar eclipses can be observed without any special equipment. Additionally, lunar eclipses unfold over several hours, offering a prolonged viewing experience compared to the brief moments of a solar eclipse.
The eclipse is set to commence as the moon enters Earth’s penumbra around 10 p.m. ET, but the visible phase starts at 10:33 p.m. ET on August 27 and concludes at 1:52 a.m. ET on August 28. The deepest part of the eclipse, with the moon appearing significantly darkened, will occur at 12:13 a.m. ET.
Apart from this eclipse, there are various other celestial events happening this month. Elaina Hyde, the director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at York University, noted the exciting astronomical occurrences in August, including the partial solar eclipse, the Perseids meteor shower, and the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction.
Regarding the coloration of the moon during the eclipse, Hyde mentioned that while it won’t turn completely red due to it being a partial eclipse, observers in Canada may still witness a reddish hue. Lunar eclipses are accessible to the naked eye, but using binoculars, a small telescope, or a camera with a good night mode can enhance the viewing experience and allow for capturing detailed images.
