On the night of August 27-28, skywatchers in Canada will have the opportunity to witness a deep partial lunar eclipse with 93% coverage at its peak. Lunar eclipses occur when the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, starting with the outer, fainter penumbra before moving into the darker umbra.
Unlike solar eclipses, viewing a lunar eclipse does not require protective eyewear, and the event unfolds over several hours rather than minutes. Most regions in Canada will witness the entire eclipse, while Western Canada will catch the partial eclipse as the moon rises.
The eclipse will commence as the moon enters Earth’s penumbra around 10 p.m. ET, but the visible phase begins at 10:33 p.m. ET on August 27, reaching its deepest point at 12:13 a.m. on August 28. The eclipse will end at 1:52 a.m. ET on August 28.
Elaina Hyde, director of York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory, noted the abundance of astronomical events in August, including the recent partial solar eclipse and the Perseids meteor shower. While this lunar eclipse is partial and may not turn entirely red, certain regions in Canada may witness a reddish hue during the event.
Lunar eclipses are easily visible with the naked eye, and observers can use binoculars, a small telescope, or a smartphone camera with night mode to capture clear images of the celestial phenomenon.