A deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible across Texas Thursday night as Earth’s shadow covers more than 96% of the moon.
In Dallas, the visible partial phase will begin at approximately 9:33 p.m., reach its maximum at 11:12 p.m., and end at 12:51 a.m. Friday. The eclipse can be viewed safely without protective eyewear.
Moon Will Fall Just Short of Total Eclipse
NASA describes the August 27-28 event as a “not-quite-total” lunar eclipse because a narrow portion of the moon will remain outside Earth’s darkest shadow.
At the moment of greatest eclipse, 96.3% of the moon’s disk will be inside Earth’s umbra, the central section of its shadow where the sun is completely blocked by Earth, according to NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio.
Because a small portion of the moon will remain directly illuminated, the event is classified as a partial eclipse rather than a total lunar eclipse. Viewers may see a bright sliver along the moon’s edge while the shadowed portion appears copper, red, brown, or dark gray.
The moon’s precise appearance will depend partly on conditions in Earth’s atmosphere.
When to Watch in Dallas
The eclipse’s first stage will begin in Dallas at 8:23 p.m. Thursday when the moon enters the penumbra, the lighter outer section of Earth’s shadow. The initial dimming may be difficult to notice.
The more visible partial phase begins at 9:33 p.m., according to eclipse calculations for Dallas. At that time, the moon will be in the east-southeastern sky.
Maximum eclipse occurs at 11:12 p.m., when the moon will be higher in the southeastern sky. Earth’s dark inner shadow will begin leaving the moon after the peak, and the partial phase will conclude at 12:51 a.m. Friday.
The remaining penumbral phase ends at approximately 2:01 a.m.
No telescope, binoculars, or eclipse glasses are required. Binoculars or a small telescope can provide a closer view of Earth’s curved shadow moving across the lunar surface. Observers will need sufficiently clear skies and should seek a location with an unobstructed view of the east or southeast, particularly during the eclipse’s early stages.
Why the Moon Could Appear Red
A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon align, allowing Earth to cast its shadow across the full moon.
Some sunlight can still reach the shadowed moon after passing through Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere scatters more of the shorter blue wavelengths while allowing red and orange wavelengths to continue through and bend toward the lunar surface.
That filtering process can give an eclipsed moon a copper or red appearance, leading to the popular term “blood moon.”
The color is not guaranteed. Dust, smoke, clouds, and other particles in Earth’s atmosphere can influence whether the moon appears bright orange, deep red, brown, or unusually dark.
Eclipse Visible Across the Americas
The eclipse will be visible from most of the Americas, western Europe, and western Africa, according to NASA’s eclipse information.
The partial phase will last for more than three hours, providing Texans with an extended viewing period Thursday night. Visibility in individual communities will depend on local cloud cover.
Provided by Dallas Express
