The moon nearly disappeared into Earth’s shadow overnight, leaving only a thin bright edge as a deep partial lunar eclipse unfolded across the Americas, Africa and parts of Europe.
About 96% of the lunar surface passed through Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of its shadow. The result was a moon that appeared mostly red while a small sliver remained untouched.
Download the Straight Arrow app today to get the stories that matter free from manipulation, bias or agenda.™
Point phone camera here
That sliver is what kept the eclipse from becoming total.
The event was visible across large parts of North and South America, Africa and Europe. Stargazers gathered in cities including Buenos Aires, Caracas and Las Vegas to watch it develop.
In Caracas, clouds initially threatened to spoil the view before the sky cleared as the eclipse progressed.
The red color came from sunlight that traveled through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the moon. More blue light was scattered along the way, allowing more red light through — the same basic effect that helps color sunrises and sunsets.
The eclipse reached its maximum shortly after midnight Eastern time Friday and just after 9 p.m. Thursday on the West Coast.
Unlike a solar eclipse, viewers could look directly at the moon without special eye protection. Binoculars or telescopes could bring out more detail, but they were not necessary to see the event.
Space.com said the Aug. 27-28 eclipse was the most impressive lunar eclipse expected anywhere on Earth until a total lunar eclipse on New Year’s Eve 2028.
Round out your reading
- All your questions about napping, answered.
- Trump’s $5,000 promise echoes past payouts that never materialized.
- Inside the effort to make data centers pay their share of electricity costs.
- Why did the Feds seize the ’largest Martian meteorite on Earth’?
- Photos and video show exactly where and when Trump visited Ground Zero after 9/11.
