On the night of August 27-28, a deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible across Canada, following the recent total solar eclipse observed in Iceland, Spain, and a portion of Portugal. Lunar eclipses occur when the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra, after moving through the outer, dimmer shadow called the penumbra. The upcoming eclipse will have 93% coverage at its maximum.
Most regions in Canada will witness the entire eclipse, with Western Canada catching the partial eclipse as the moon rises. Unlike solar eclipses, no protective eyewear is needed to view a lunar eclipse, which unfolds over hours rather than minutes. The eclipse will commence as the moon enters Earth’s penumbra around 10 p.m. ET, with the visible phase starting at 10:33 p.m. ET on August 27 and ending at 1:52 a.m. on August 28. The deepest part, at 12:13 a.m., will see most of the moon darkened.
This celestial event is part of several astronomical occurrences this month, including the earlier partial solar eclipse and the recent Jupiter-Mercury conjunction. While it won’t be a complete “blood moon,” the eclipse may still appear quite red in certain Canadian locations.
Director Elaina Hyde of York University’s department of physics and astronomy in Toronto mentioned that no special equipment is required to view the eclipse, just your eyes. However, using binoculars, a small telescope, or a smartphone with a good night mode can enhance your viewing experience and capture impressive images of the eclipse.