Much of the world will have the opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse on the evening of August 27, during which the moon will appear a deep orange-red.
This celestial event, often referred to as a 'blood moon,' occurs when the Earth positions itself directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow upon the lunar surface. For this eclipse, 96% of the moon's face will fall within Earth's shadow. The autumnal hue is attributed to Earth's atmosphere, which scatters shorter blue wavelengths of sunlight while allowing longer red wavelengths to pass through and illuminate the moon.
While lunar eclipses typically happen two to three times a year, total lunar eclipses are less frequent, making up about 29% of these occurrences. The phenomenon is a result of the moon's orbital plane being tilted about five degrees relative to Earth's orbit around the sun, meaning the moon does not pass into Earth's shadow on every orbit.
The upcoming eclipse will span a total of five hours and 38 minutes, beginning on the evening of August 27 and concluding in the early hours of August 28. For observers in the Americas, the eclipsed moon will be visible rising in the sky. In the U.S., the eclipse is set to start at 9:23 p.m. ET on August 27 and end at 3:01 a.m. ET on August 28. Finding a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon may be beneficial, as the moon may appear low in the sky.
The eclipse progresses through three distinct phases: penumbral, partial, and total (or maximum). The penumbral phase, when the moon enters the outer edge of Earth's shadow, will last one hour and ten minutes. This will be followed by the partial phase, lasting one hour and 39 minutes, as Earth's darker shadow begins to cover the moon. The maximum phase, when 96% of the moon is obscured and it takes on its characteristic red glow, will also last one hour and 39 minutes, occurring at 12:12 a.m. ET. Following the maximum phase, the eclipse will reverse through the partial and penumbral stages.
This lunar eclipse occurs during an 'eclipse season,' a period occurring twice a year when the orbits of the Earth, moon, and sun align to make eclipses possible. The preceding solar eclipse took place on August 12. The next total lunar eclipse is not anticipated until December 31, 2027, to January 1, 2028.