Sky-watchers can head out in the early hours tomorrow morning (Friday, August 28), as the full moon is passing into Earth’s shadow, creating a deep partial lunar eclipse.

A small part of the moon will remain outside the umbra, which is why it will be a partial eclipse.

The moon might develop a reddish colour, making it a must for photographers to take up their cameras and snap some amazing shots.

According to Graham Jones from Timeanddate, the moon will become fainter as it gets covered up by Earth’s dark umbral shadow. But it won’t disappear completely.

Instead, the moon’s face will slowly turn a rusty red colour, because the edge of Earth’s shadow in space has a reddish glow that comes from sunlight streaming through the atmosphere surrounding our planet.

A rusty red moon is often called a blood moon. The effect will start to become noticeable as the bright part of the moon’s face – the part not covered by Earth’s dark umbra – becomes smaller and less dazzling.

Here are some facts to keep in mind:

• When is the lunar eclipse?
The partial lunar eclipse will occur on Friday, August 28.
What time does the lunar eclipse start in South Africa?
• The penumbral phase begins at approximately 03:23, while the partial eclipse begins at around 05:12.• What time is the peak lunar eclipse in South Africa?
The maximum eclipse occurs at approximately 06:12 SAST on August 28.

Sky-watching tips

Timeanddate also shared five easy sky-watching tips:

• A good time to spot planets and bright stars is right after the sun goes down. Check your local sunset time.
• A night sky map will help you find out what to look for in real time.
• Observe the moon as the moon is easy to spot and changes every night. Track the phases and rise and set times for your location.
• Find a spot away from artificial light and let your eyes adjust for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Check the weather, because clouds can get in the way of celestial objects.

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