Skywatchers from coast to coast will have the chance to observe a near‑total lunar eclipse on Thursday night. The event, which will be visible across the continental United States, begins at 9:23 p.m. Eastern Time as the moon first enters Earth’s outer shadow and reaches its maximum coverage just after midnight.
Timing and visibility
The eclipse will start at 9:23 p.m. ET when the moon touches the penumbral shadow. The more dramatic phase begins at 10:33 p.m. ET as Earth’s umbral shadow starts to bite into the lunar disk. At 12:12 a.m. ET the eclipse peaks, with 96.2 % of the moon’s surface covered by Earth’s shadow. The celestial show concludes at 3:01 a.m. ET when the moon exits the penumbra.
Most of the United States, except for Alaska and the far northern reaches of Canada, will be able to see every stage of the eclipse. Viewers in Europe and Africa will see the beginning of the event early on Friday, but the moon will set before the eclipse reaches its peak.
What makes a lunar eclipse “blood‑red”
During a lunar eclipse Earth’s atmosphere bends sunlight and filters out blue wavelengths, casting a reddish‑orange glow on the moon’s surface. This phenomenon gives the eclipse its popular nickname, the “blood moon.” Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye, though binoculars or a telescope can reveal more detail.
Recent celestial events
The upcoming eclipse follows a total solar eclipse that lit up skies over southern Europe two weeks earlier, including Spain, Portugal, Greenland, Iceland and northern Russia. Solar and lunar eclipses often occur in pairs because of the predictable geometry of the Earth‑moon‑sun system. When the moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, a solar eclipse occurs during the new‑moon phase. Roughly two weeks later, when the moon is on the opposite side of Earth, a lunar eclipse takes place during the full‑moon phase.
Future eclipses
NASA notes that the next solar eclipse will be visible on February 6, 2027, across parts of South America and Africa. The following lunar eclipse is slated for the night of February 20‑21, 2027, and will be observable from a broad swath of the globe, including North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Antarctica.
For those eager to experience the event, a clear sky is the only requirement. Find a dark location away from city lights, look up, and enjoy one of nature’s most striking displays.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
