Skywatchers across the Americas and beyond are preparing for a deep partial lunar eclipse on Thursday night, August 27, when Earth’s shadow will cover 96% of the lunar disk. The celestial event offers a leisurely, safe viewing experience for billions of people worldwide.
California will see a near-total, reddish lunar eclipse this
When Earth slips directly between the sun and the moon later this week, it sets off the second lunar eclipse of the year. Unlike the fleeting spectacle of a solar eclipse, this late-summer astronomical event unfolds over several hours, giving observers across multiple continents ample time to catch the view. For viewers in Colorado and the broader western half of the United States, the peak of the eclipse occurs during the predawn hours, framing a nearly swallowed moon low in the sky. The entire event spans roughly five and a half hours from start to finish, while the partial phase alone lasts more than three hours. Visibility varies heavily depending on geographic coordinates. Meanwhile, residents on the West Coast and across mountain states like Colorado experience the event during the early morning hours, where the darkened moon sits closer to the western horizon before dawn. Astronomers note that viewing conditions rely entirely on local weather and light pollution. While coastal regions must contend with potential low clouds, high-altitude observers often find clearer breaks through translucent cloud layers. Bay Area viewing conditions may not be entirely optimal on Thursday, however, as moisture from Tropical Storm Iselle moves over California,
said Chronicle meteorologist Anthony Edwards. It is unlikely skies will be completely clear Thursday evening.
As of Monday afternoon, weather models predicted the most widespread cloud cover over the South Bay and Central Coast, with scattered high clouds over the rest of the Bay Area, Edwards said, adding that Fog is not expected to be widespread, but areas near the coast should prepare for at least some low clouds.
Se avecina un eclipse lunar casi total y América
The Science Behind the Coppery Red Glow
Where to see the total lunar eclipse in the
Because the alignment falls just short of total perfection, the event stops shy of a true blood moon, leaving a slender sliver of the lunar disk illuminated by direct sunlight. Even so, the blocked 96% of the moon takes on a distinct reddish-orange tint. That characteristic color stems from how Earth’s atmosphere filters sunlight. As our planet blocks direct rays, some light bends through the atmospheric edge. Shorter wavelengths like blue and green scatter away, while longer wavelengths such as red, orange, and yellow pass through to hit the lunar surface. There’s been some discussion among astronomers about how red the moon will be during Thursday’s partial eclipse, but the consensus seems to be that it’s going to be plenty red, said Andrew Fraknoi, astronomy professor at the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco. Atmospheric conditions like dust, volcanic ash, or smoke can alter the exact depth of the red hue from one eclipse to the next, but experts expect a striking display this week. A Democratic Celestial Show Safe for the Naked Eye
Stargazers do not need specialized equipment, filters, or safety glasses to enjoy the phenomenon. As Andrew Fraknoi pointed out, lunar eclipses remain entirely safe for direct viewing and offer a much more relaxed pace than solar events. The scale of the audience extends far beyond Earth’s surface. Almost a whopping 96% of the lunar surface will be masked Thursday night into Friday, making this an especially deep partial eclipse. The moon is already in the spotlight as NASA sent the Artemis II astronauts on a record-breaking lunar flyby in April, the prelude to eventually landing on the surface and building a base swarming with people and robots over the next several years. This is a great time to be part of the space program, right? We’re not slowing down,
NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway told The Associated Press from the International Space Station last week. It’s the second act of the greatest show in the solar system, coming two weeks after a total solar eclipse paraded through Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Eclipses always travel in pairs as the sun, moon and Earth align so precisely that one obscures the other, because the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, which is 400 times farther away, making them appear the same size—a cosmic coincidence and gift from the universe. For those watching from the ground in Colorado, finding an elevated vantage point clear of tall trees or obstructing buildings ensures the best look at the moon before morning light washes out the sky.
