Overview
- The deep partial lunar eclipse will reach its maximum at about 04:13 UTC (12:13 a.m. EDT) early Friday, Aug. 28, when roughly 96% of the lunar disk is inside Earth’s umbra.
- The event is widely visible across the Americas and parts of western Europe and Africa, with U.S. East Coast and some Midwest locations able to see the whole sequence while West Coast viewers catch the eclipse after it begins.
- Observers do not need eye protection to watch the eclipse, and binoculars or small telescopes can enhance the view; multiple outlets including NASA, Space.com and TimeandDate are offering live streams for those blocked by weather or location.
- The UK Met Office gives local UK timings (penumbral ~2:23 a.m., partial ~3:33 a.m., maximum ~5:12 a.m.) and warns that cloud and a low horizon will likely limit views for many areas, with southern and eastern England having the best early chance.
- The Moon’s red or copper hue comes from sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere, and the exact color and brightness will depend on local cloud cover and atmospheric aerosols such as volcanic dust or smoke; this is the deepest partial lunar eclipse visible until 2028.