A lunar eclipse will be visible across the United States beginning the night of Thursday, Aug. 27, and lasting into the early morning of Friday, Aug. 28. During the event, the full moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, which NASA reports will cause the moon to take on a rusty or coppery tint. The phenomenon is safe to view with the naked eye and does not require protective eyewear.
According to the Saint Louis Science Center, approximately 96% of the moon will be covered by Earth's shadow at the eclipse's maximum point. While the event will be visible throughout North America, the eastern half of the U.S. is expected to see the most dramatic portion of the shadow. NASA and local science centers indicate that the eclipse will start at 9:38 p.m. ET on Thursday and conclude at approximately 3:01 a.m. ET on Friday.
The maximum phase of the eclipse, when the largest portion of the moon is obscured, will occur at 12:12 a.m. ET on Aug. 28. In other time zones, this peak is scheduled for 11:12 p.m. CT, 10:12 p.m. MT, and 9:12 p.m. PT on Aug. 27. Observers in Hawaii and Alaska may only be able to view the end of the eclipse following sunset, as the sun sets too late in those regions to capture the maximum phase.
On a concrete level, residents will notice a color change in the moon from its usual white or yellow appearance to a dark red or copper hue. However, the visibility of this change depends heavily on local conditions. Wildfire smoke and cloud cover are cited as primary factors that could obscure the view for specific regions, potentially preventing observers in affected areas from seeing the shadow move across the lunar surface.
The event also serves as a point of data for astronomical institutions like NASA and the Saint Louis Science Center, which track these cycles to provide public timing updates. For the general public, the primary impact is observational and educational, occurring over a roughly five-and-a-half-hour window. Following the conclusion of the eclipse at 3:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 28, the moon will return to its standard appearance. There are no further scheduled lunar events mentioned for the remainder of the month.