Skywatchers across the area will have a good reason to look up Thursday night as a partial lunar eclipse crosses the night sky August 27 into the early morning hours of August 28.

The eclipse will occur as the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, causing Earth’s shadow to gradually cover the lunar surface. At its peak, approximately 96% of the moon will be within Earth’s dark shadow, making this eclipse appear very close to a total lunar eclipse. The shadowed portion of the moon may also take on a reddish or copper color.

For North Louisiana, the most noticeable portion of the eclipse begins at approximately 9:33pm Thursday, when Earth’s darker shadow starts moving across the moon.

Maximum eclipse is expected around 11:12pm, when nearly the entire moon will be covered. The partial phase will end at approximately 12:51am Friday.

A much more subtle penumbral phase begins earlier in the evening and continues after the partial eclipse ends, but it can be difficult to notice with the naked eye.

Unlike a solar eclipse, no special glasses or protective equipment are necessary to view a lunar eclipse. It is safe to watch directly, although binoculars or a telescope can provide a closer look.

The entire event can be viewed from anywhere with a clear view of the moon, provided skies cooperate. For those who don’t want to stay up for the entire eclipse, around 11pm Thursday will offer one of the best opportunities to see the moon almost completely covered by Earth’s shadow.

The August 27-28 event will be an unusually deep partial eclipse and one of the more impressive lunar eclipses visible from Louisiana in the coming years.

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