Near-Total Lunar Eclipse to Dazzle Americas Thursday Night

Sky-gazers across the Americas are in for a treat Thursday night as a near-total lunar eclipse—with 96% of the moon covered by Earth's shadow—turns the full sturgeon moon a reddish 'blood moon' hue. The event follows the total solar eclipse that captivated Europe earlier this month, and it will be the last major lunar eclipse until 2028 Source: Gizmodo.

What to expect

The partial eclipse begins at 10:33 p.m. ET, with the maximum at 12:13 a.m. ET Friday, when 96% of the moon lies within Earth's dark umbral shadow Source: Gizmodo. The entire event lasts about six hours, from 9:23 p.m. ET to 3:01 a.m. ET Source: Gizmodo. The moon will appear dimmed and take on a copper or red-orange hue, though NASA's Noah Petro notes that because a small sliver remains illuminated, it won't turn as deep a dark orange as a total eclipse Source: CNN.

Viewing tips

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye—no special glasses needed Source: Wired. For the best experience, experts recommend finding a dark location away from light pollution with an unobstructed view of the sky Source: CNN. Binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view, allowing you to see the shadow cross craters and mountains Source: Wired.

Regional visibility

Observers across North and South America will have prime viewing, with the eclipse occurring during evening and overnight hours Source: The Guardian. Europe will also get a glimpse, but the moon will be low and dawn will interfere, making observation difficult in places like Spain Source: Wired. In Italy, cities like Naples, Rome, and Venice are forecast to have the best views Source: Euronews.

Disagreement on coverage

Sources differ slightly on the exact percentage of the moon covered at peak: Wired reports 93%, while The Guardian, CNN, Gizmodo, and Euronews all state 96% Source: Wired; Source: The Guardian; Source: CNN; Source: Gizmodo; Source: Euronews.