Partial Lunar Eclipse and 'Blood Moon' to Be Visible on August 27

A partial lunar eclipse will take place overnight from Thursday into Friday, giving the moon a reddish or orange tint as Earth's shadow covers nearly its entire visible surface.

The partial phase will last about three hours and 18 minutes. At its peak, roughly 93 percent of the moon's diameter will sit within the darkest part of Earth's shadow.

Where and When to Watch

Unlike the recent solar eclipse, which favored Europe as the prime viewing region, this event will be best seen across North and South America, where the peak will occur during nighttime hours. Observers in Europe will only catch the eclipse around dawn, and conditions there will be limited — in Spain, for instance, daybreak combined with the moon's low position in the sky will make viewing difficult.

Peak local viewing times in various cities include: New York at 12:14 am, Chicago at 11:14 pm, Denver at 10:14 pm, Los Angeles at 9:14 pm, Mexico City at 10:14 pm, Lima at 11:14 pm, Buenos Aires at 1:14 am, and London at 5:12 am.

Why the Moon Turns Red

During a lunar eclipse, sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere loses its blue wavelengths, leaving mostly red light to reach the moon's surface — an effect NASA compares to projecting all of the world's sunrises and sunsets onto the moon. When the eclipse is total, this reddish effect is known as a 'blood moon.'

Viewing Tips

No special eye protection is needed to watch a lunar eclipse, unlike a solar one. Observers are advised to seek out spots away from light pollution with a clear view of the sky, and to start watching before the peak to see Earth's shadow gradually creep across the lunar surface. Binoculars or a telescope reveal more detail, while those facing cloudy skies can follow the event through online livestreams.