Early risers are in for a spectacular sight tomorrow morning (August 28), when the Moon slips into Earth’s shadow and takes on a reddish-orange hue during a partial lunar eclipse. 

Krugersdorp News reported that, according to Nasa, a lunar eclipse occurs when there is a full moon and the Earth passes directly between the Moon and the Sun. 

According to the Boyden Observatory and Naval Hill Planetarium, the Moon is expected to pass deep into Earth’s shadow, with 92.6% of its disc obscured at maximum eclipse at 06:13. 

The observatory and planetarium are educational facilities in Bloemfontein managed in connection with the University of the Free State. 

According to both facilities, a penumbral eclipse, which occurs when the Moon passes through the lighter outer part of Earth’s shadow, will begin at 03:24.  

“The first signs of the eclipse will become visible at 03:50, with a slight darkening of the Moon’s western limb,” it said. 

The umbral or partial eclipse will begin at 04:34. 

“As the eclipse occurs during the early morning, the Moon will appear low in the west before sunrise,” added the facilities. 

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