August Full Moon to Align with Partial Lunar Eclipse This Week This week, the full moon of August will coincide with a partial lunar eclipse, offering a celestial spectacle for skywatchers. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth’s shadow, or umbra, falls on the Moon. When the umbra covers the entire lunar surface, it results in a total eclipse, but if only part of the Moon is obscured, it is classified as a partial eclipse. This week’s event will be a partial eclipse, though it will come close to a total one, with the Earth’s shadow covering approximately 96% of the Moon. The eclipse will begin at 10:34 p.m. (Miami time) on Thursday and reach its peak at 12:13 a.m. on Friday, according to EarthSky. The full moon’s maximum brightness, when it will appear most round and luminous, is expected at 12:18 a.m. on Friday, as noted by The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Observers in North and South America will have the best view, as the event will occur during nighttime and early morning hours in these regions. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon often takes on a reddish or orange hue due to the way Earth’s atmosphere scatters sunlight. Shorter wavelengths like violet and blue are dispersed, while longer wavelengths such as red and orange pass through and illuminate the Moon. However, during a partial eclipse, the Moon will not adopt this deep red color. Noah Petro, chief of the Planetary Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, explained that a small portion of the Moon will remain illuminated by the Sun, preventing the intense reddening effect. Lunar eclipses are relatively common, with most years featuring two events. Some years may see three, while others might have none.#full_moon #partial_lunar_eclipse #earth_moon_sun #noah_petro #pamela_gay
