Another celestial show is coming as partial lunar eclipse takes center stage for billions
Yet another celestial event will dazzle the sky this week as a partial lunar eclipse becomes visible across much of North and South America.
THE TAKEAWAY
Yet another celestial event will dazzle the sky this week as a partial lunar eclipse becomes visible across much of North and South America.
Starting on the night of Aug. 27 and continuing into Aug. 28 for some locations, the full moon will slip through Earth's shadow, creating a partial lunar eclipse.
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"At maximum eclipse, about 93% of the moon's diameter will be inside Earth's dark central shadow, called the umbra," NASA said. "The moon will not be completely covered, but it can look dramatically darkened, with a rusty, coppery tint along the covered edge."
This shadow gets smaller as it goes away from the sun, and it is the dark center of the eclipse shadow.
After the eclipse begins and for less than an hour following the partial phase, the penumbra will have a subtle effect on the moon, turning it copper.
During the peak of the eclipse on Aug. 28 at 4:13 a.m. UTC, 96.3% of the moon’s disk will be within Earth's Umbra, the central part of the shadow where our planet completely blocks the sun.
The eclipse will begin after the moon rises.
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This exciting part of the eclipse will be visible for around 3.3 billion people across North and South America (except Alaska and Northwestern Canada), western Europe and western Africa. That is about 44% of the world population.
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Thankfully, a lunar eclipse is much easier to view than a solar eclipse because we are viewing reflected sunlight bouncing off the moon, so you don't need safety glasses or viewing tools.
Use a telescope or binoculars for the best possible view of this stunning celestial event as summer comes to a close.
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