Stargazers are set to witness a dramatic partial lunar eclipse in the early hours of Friday, August 28, during which more than 90 percent of the moon will pass into Earth's shadow. This event is expected to cast a striking copper-red hue across the lunar surface, creating the phenomenon known as a 'blood moon.'
The eclipse will commence at 2:23 a.m. UK time as the moon enters the penumbra, the outer region of Earth's shadow. The more significant partial eclipse begins at 3:33 a.m. when the moon moves into the umbra, the darker central part of the shadow. The peak of the eclipse, when only a sliver of the moon remains illuminated, will occur at 5:12 a.m. The visible eclipse will conclude around 6:15 a.m. as the moon sets below the horizon.
This celestial display is safe to view with the naked eye, and no special equipment is required. However, experts advise finding a location with a clear, unobstructed view of the southwestern horizon, away from artificial lights. While telescopes and binoculars can enhance the view, they are not essential.
The reddish color of the 'blood moon' is a result of sunlight filtering and bending through Earth's atmosphere. Shorter blue wavelengths of light are scattered, leaving longer red and orange wavelengths to illuminate the moon's surface, a process similar to what causes vibrant colors at sunrise and sunset.
While the moon will not be completely obscured, this partial lunar eclipse will be the deepest visible globally until December 31, 2028. The eclipse will be observable across the UK, as well as in North and South America, Africa, and other parts of Europe.
This event follows closely on the heels of a spectacular partial solar eclipse on August 12, which saw up to 96 percent of the sun covered in parts of the UK. Astronomers note that solar and lunar eclipses often occur in pairs, approximately two weeks apart, during the same eclipse season.
In addition to the lunar eclipse, skywatchers may also observe the Alpha Aurigid meteor shower, which became active on August 25 and is expected to peak around September 1. This meteor shower is caused by Earth passing through debris left by a comet, where small particles heat up and burn upon entering the atmosphere, creating visible streaks of light.