On the night of August 27-28, a significant partial lunar eclipse will be visible throughout Canada. This event follows a total solar eclipse that occurred in Iceland, Spain, and a part of Portugal about two weeks ago. Despite being a partial eclipse, it will have a deep impact, with 93% coverage at its peak.
Lunar eclipses happen when the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. Before entering the umbra, it traverses through Earth’s outer, fainter shadow called the penumbra, which is harder to see with the naked eye due to its dimness.
Most regions in Canada will have the opportunity to witness the entire eclipse duration, while Western Canada will observe the partial eclipse already in progress as the moon rises.
The advantage of a lunar eclipse over a solar one is that no protective eyewear is necessary to view the phenomenon. Additionally, unlike a solar eclipse that transpires in minutes, a lunar eclipse unfolds over several hours.
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 and concludes at 1:52 a.m. on August 28. The deepest phase of the eclipse is expected at 12:13 a.m., with almost the entire moon appearing darkened.
This celestial event is just one of the many astronomical occurrences happening this month. Elaina Hyde, director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at York University’s department of physics and astronomy in Toronto, highlighted the various events in August, including the partial solar eclipse on August 12, the Perseids meteor shower, and the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction.
Regarding the eclipse’s appearance as a “blood moon,” Hyde noted that while it is a partial eclipse and may not turn completely red, depending on the location in Canada, it will still exhibit a reddish hue. Lunar eclipses offer the convenience of being observable with the naked eye, but using binoculars, a small telescope, or a smartphone camera with a night mode can provide better picture-taking opportunities.