On the night of August 27-28, a deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible across Canada. This follows the recent total solar eclipse witnessed in Iceland, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. Lunar eclipses occur when the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, known as its umbra, after traversing the outer, fainter penumbra. Most of Canada will have full visibility of the eclipse, while Western Canada will witness the partial eclipse as the moon rises.

Unlike solar eclipses, watching a lunar eclipse does not require protective eyewear, and the event unfolds over hours rather than minutes. The eclipse will commence as the moon enters Earth’s penumbra around 10 p.m. ET, with the visible phase starting at 10:33 p.m. ET on August 27 and concluding at 1:52 a.m. on August 28. The deepest eclipse point will be at 12:13 a.m., with nearly the entire moon appearing darkened.

The eclipse will be viewable across North and South America. Despite being a partial eclipse, it may still showcase a reddish hue, particularly in certain areas of Canada. This event is easily observable with the naked eye, though binoculars or a small telescope can enhance the viewing experience and allow for capturing impressive photos. Director Elaina Hyde from York University’s department of physics and astronomy in Toronto highlighted the eclipse as one of many exciting astronomical events happening this month.