The early hours of Friday 28 August will reward very early risers in the UK, Europe and Africa with a fine lunar eclipse. Though not quite a total eclipse, it will transform the moon into a dramatic sight as dawn approaches.
The partial eclipse begins at 3.33am BST, when the moon’s familiar full disc begins to disappear behind the shadow of the Earth. By the time the eclipse reaches its greatest extent, shortly after 5.10am, only a thin sliver of the moon will remain in direct sunlight. The rest is likely to glow a muted coppery red as sunlight bent into the Earth’s shadow and filtered through its atmosphere reaches the lunar surface.
As the eclipse unfolds, the moon will be sinking, so find an observation site with an uninterrupted view towards the western horizon, and enjoy the view as the eclipse slips from view while the dawn gathers behind you in the east.
Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye. Binoculars will even reveal subtle shades of colour across the moon’s surface.
Observers across much of the Americas will be able to enjoy the eclipse from beginning to end from late night on Thursday 27 August, while those in New Zealand will catch little more than its closing moments much later on Friday.
