It’s been a busy week in the universe.
Were you able to see the Perseid meteor shower earlier this week? If you sleep through it – or are met with overcast skies – fear not! There’s another amazing celestial event just around the corner.
In this segment of NHPR’s Cosmic Curiosity, host Patrick McNamee King sits down with Harvard astronomer John Gianforte to discuss the upcoming near-total lunar eclipse. Read on to find out when to look up, what to expect when the moon moves through Earth’s shadow, and why you can safely leave your eclipse glasses in a drawer.
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John Gianforte: Late in the evening of August 27, a partial lunar eclipse occurred, but it is more of a total lunar eclipse as opposed to a solar eclipse. It is the moon that passes in the Earth’s shadow.
Patrick McNamee King: This is amazing. I never believe the Earth has a shadow, but I guess it makes sense.
John Gianforte: The Earth has a type of dark inner shadow called the umbra, and a light outer shadow called the penumbra. Well, the entire Moon will pass through Earth’s outer shadow, but only a small piece of it will pass through the inner shadow. As it gets deeper and deeper into the eclipse, it will take on a kind of orange color, and it will become very beautiful.
Patrick McNamee King: Are there any precautions that should be taken when watching a lunar eclipse?
John Gianforte: You don’t have to worry about eye protection because watching the lunar eclipse is completely safe. It happens at night. Nothing like a solar eclipse.
Patrick McNamee King: great. So remind me when this is.
John Gianforte: The best times to view the eclipse begin around 10:30 Eastern Daylight Time on August 27.
The maximum eclipse, when the moon is deep in Earth’s shadow as it will be, will occur at 12:12, 12:13 a.m. on August 28, and it’s not something you won’t miss in five minutes. It will last a few minutes. So, if you’re there between 12 midnight and 12:30 pm, you’ll see the best part.
If you have questions about the night sky, send us an email, [email protected].
