A partial lunar eclipse will be visible across the UK, Europe, and Africa during the early morning hours of Friday, 28 August. The eclipse will begin at 3.33am BST as the moon starts to move behind Earth’s shadow. The eclipse will reach its maximum intensity shortly after 5.10am, at which point only a thin crescent of the moon will remain illuminated by direct sunlight.
During the eclipse’s peak, the remainder of the lunar surface is expected to display a muted coppery-red coloration. This effect occurs as sunlight bends through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the moon’s surface while it sits within Earth’s shadow. Observers should seek a viewing location with a clear western horizon, as the moon will be descending toward the horizon as the eclipse progresses and daylight increases in the east.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses pose no danger to viewers and can be safely observed with the naked eye. Binoculars may enhance the viewing experience by revealing subtle color variations across the lunar surface. Observers in the Americas will be able to see the eclipse from start to finish beginning late on Thursday, 27 August, while viewers in New Zealand will only see the final stages of the event on Friday.
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