This night the second great astronomical show of August arrives. The lunar eclipse of August 28 will be visible from all of Spain during the early hours of Friday and will be very close to being total: at its maximum moment, around 93% of the diameter of the Moon will be in the umbra, the darkest part of the shadow cast by the Earth. Special glasses will not be needed and it will be enough to look towards the west, although the time of the Moon's setting will mark important differences depending on the point in Spain from which it is observed.
The phenomenon will technically be a partial lunar eclipse, but especially deep. NASA anticipates that the satellite may appear "dramatically darkened," with coppery tones in the part covered by the Earth's shadow.
This is the guide to not miss anything this early morning.
What time does the lunar eclipse start tonight
The first phase will begin during the early morning. The Moon will initially enter the penumbra, the outer and less dark area of the Earth's shadow. At that moment, the change in brightness will be so subtle that it may be difficult to appreciate it with the naked eye.
The really interesting moment will come when the partial phase begins, around 04:33 hours in the Peninsula and Balearic Islands. The Moon will then start to penetrate the umbra and it will be clearly distinguishable how the Earth's shadow advances across the lunar disk.
The culminating moment will arrive approximately at 06:12 hours in the Peninsula and Balearic Islands and one hour earlier in the Canary Islands. NASA places the global maximum around 04:13 UTC.
| Phase | Peninsula and Balearic Islands | Canary Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Penumbral start | 03:23 | 02:23 |
| Partial start | 04:33 | 03:33 |
| Maximum | 06:12 | 05:12 |
| Partial end | 07:51 | 06:51 |
| Penumbral end | 09:01 | 08:01 |
It will be partial, but very close to a total eclipse
Here is one of the peculiarities of this night. The eclipse will have a magnitude of 0.93, according to the National Geographic Institute.
The figure does not mean that "93% of the Moon will simply disappear." The threshold magnitude measures what proportion of the lunar diameter penetrates into the Earth's umbra.
NASA offers the same reference: at the maximum, approximately 93% of the diameter of the Moon will be within the central and dark shadow of the Earth.
For the eclipse to be total, the entire disk would have to be introduced. This early morning a small portion will remain outside, enough to officially maintain the classification of a partial eclipse.
Visually, however, the result can be spectacular: practically the entire Moon will be submerged in the shadow of our planet.
Will the Moon turn red?
It can do so. NASA anticipates that the eclipsed part could present a reddish, rusty, or coppery appearance, although we will not be facing a total "blood moon."
The Moon does not disappear when it enters the Earth's shadow because part of the sunlight manages to pass through our planet's atmosphere. The colors of shorter wavelengths, such as blues, scatter more easily, while some of the reddish light passes through the atmosphere and eventually reaches the lunar surface.
It is, essentially, the same phenomenon that allows us to see red and orange tones during sunrises and sunsets.
The exact intensity of the color cannot be determined in advance. The conditions of the Earth's atmosphere influence the amount and characteristics of the light that ultimately reaches the Moon.
Where the lunar eclipse will be best seen in Spain
The IGN confirms good news: the partial phase can be observed from all of Spain before the Moon sets.
That does not mean, however, that all regions can enjoy the same spectacle.
In the center and east of the Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, and Melilla, the Moon will set before the partial phase ends. Observers will be able to see the maximum, but will miss the final segment because the satellite will disappear below the horizon.
In the rest of the Peninsula, the Canary Islands, and Ceuta, the lunar sunset will occur after the end of the partial phase, according to IGN's calculations.
This gives an advantage to the western areas. Galicia, Extremadura, and the west of Andalusia and Castilla y León will have more leeway to follow the phenomenon as the Moon descends.
The key will not just be finding darkness: you have to look to the west
To observe this eclipse, there is an even more determining factor than escaping the city lights: having a clear western horizon.
The Moon will be descending during the most spectacular phases. A building, a mountain, trees, or any other obstacle to the west can cause it to disappear from view before its astronomical setting.
An elevated and open place can significantly improve the observation. This will be especially important in the provinces where the satellite is already very close to the horizon during the maximum.
Whoever goes out expressly to see it should, therefore, check beforehand where the Moon sets from the chosen place.
Madrid will be able to see the maximum, but not the entire eclipse
Madrid is among the places from which the moment of maximum obscuration can be contemplated.
At 06:12 hours, the Moon will continue above the horizon, although it will be descending towards the west. Afterwards, it will end up hiding before the entire partial phase concludes.
The recommendation for Madrid and a good part of the central peninsula is clear: look for a point with the western horizon as clear as possible.
The forecast from AEMET for the Guadarrama and Somosierra mountains points, for Friday the 28th, to a beginning of the day slightly cloudy or clear, although some bank of low clouds on the northern slope is not ruled out.
Are glasses needed to see the lunar eclipse?
No. And neither should the glasses from the solar eclipse of last August 12 be used.
A lunar eclipse is completely different from the point of view of eye safety. The observer looks at the Moon, not directly at the Sun, so it can be contemplated throughout the process with the naked eye and without any special filter.
The IGN expressly states that its observation "poses no danger" and that it does not require special instrumentation. NASA also confirms that it can be viewed directly with the eyes.
Using glasses for solar eclipses would be counterproductive: they block such a quantity of light that they would greatly hinder seeing the Moon.
Is it worth using binoculars or a telescope?
They are not necessary, but they can greatly enhance the experience.
With binoculars, it will be easier to appreciate the difference in brightness between the narrow area that continues to receive direct sunlight and the enormous surface introduced into the umbra.
A telescope will allow for a more detailed observation of how the curved edge of the Earth's shadow crosses craters and lunar seas. NASA specifically recommends binoculars or a small telescope to observe the movement of the shadow in greater detail.
How to photograph the lunar eclipse with a mobile phone
The difficulty will increase as the eclipse progresses. A normal full Moon is extraordinarily bright, but during the maximum, much of that brightness will disappear.
To photograph it with a phone, it is advisable to avoid excessive digital zoom and manually reduce the exposure during the brightest phases. When the disk darkens, it will be especially important to keep the device stable.
A tripod is the simplest solution. If one is not available, the mobile can be placed on a stable surface and the timer can be used to avoid the movement of the finger when pressing the shutter from ruining the image.
The reddish tones will be more difficult to capture than a conventional full Moon, especially with phones that automatically process night scenes.
Will there be clouds this morning?
This point should be checked practically at the last minute because cloud cover can decide whether the eclipse is seen or not from a specific location.
The forecasts from AEMET available for Friday point, for example, to little cloudy or clear conditions at the beginning of the day in areas of the Central System and the Rioja Iberian, while in Sierra Nevada, cloudy intervals and even possible showers are expected during the first half of the day.
Therefore, it is not advisable to extrapolate a national forecast to each city. The recommendation is to consult the hourly forecast from AEMET for the specific municipality before going out and pay special attention to the expected cloud cover between approximately 04:30 and 07:00.
How to follow the lunar eclipse live and in video
Those who do not have a clear horizon, are under the clouds, or simply prefer to follow the phenomenon from home can resort to live broadcasts of the eclipse.
The most interesting moment will arrive around 06:12 hours, when the eclipse reaches its maximum from Spain and almost the entire lunar diameter is within the shadow.
Democrat will also offer a specific piece to follow the lunar eclipse live and in video, along with the main news during the early morning.
Why it arrives only 16 days after the total solar eclipse
Spain has just experienced another exceptional astronomical event. The 12th of August saw the total solar eclipse, and only 16 days later this lunar eclipse arrives.
It is not a coincidence. Eclipses are grouped into the so-called eclipse seasons, periods of approximately 35 days during which the orbital geometry allows the Sun, Earth, and Moon to reach the necessary alignments.
The mechanism will now be the reverse of that of August 12. Then, the Moon passed between the Earth and the Sun. This morning it will be the Earth that is situated between both stars and projects its shadow onto the Moon.
The IGN reminds that in a year there are between four and seven solar and lunar eclipses and that usually a solar eclipse and another lunar eclipse appear separated by approximately half a lunation.
When will the next lunar eclipse be?
After this morning, one will have to wait until February 20-21, 2027 for the next lunar eclipse. It will be penumbral and can be observed from a huge expanse of the planet, including Europe.
Spain will have another even greater astronomical event marked on the calendar before. On August 2, 2027, a new total solar eclipse will cross the south of Spain.