A lunar eclipse that may cause the moon to glow eerie red is set to appear in the night sky starting on Thursday, Aug. 27.
But will the eclipse be visible to Cincinnatians?
The deep partial lunar eclipse is set to be "the most impressive lunar eclipse until New Year's Eve 2028," according to Space.com.
While the eclipse is only partial, meaning only part of the moon will be covered by Earth's shadow, it's often called an "almost blood moon" because a whopping 96% of the moon will be eclipsed.
"So there will be a little part of the moon that will still glow, and the rest of it will be dark," Nico Cappelluti, an associate professor in astrophysics and cosmology at the University of Miami, told USA TODAY.
At maximum eclipse, much of the moon may glow
an eerie reddish hue, according to Space.com. This is caused by sunlight filtered through Earth's atmosphere.
Thursday's partial lunar eclipse will also take place during August's full moon, also known as the Sturgeon Moon.
Is the lunar eclipse visible in Cincinnati?
Yes. Parts of the Midwest, including all of Ohio, will see the full eclipse, according to NASA.
What will the weather be like in Cincinnati like during the lunar eclipse?
Skies will be mostly clear with a low around 65 degrees in Cincinnati on Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
What time is the lunar eclipse in Ohio?
The eclipse will begin on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 9:23 p.m. ET, according to Time and Date. It will reach maximum eclipse when the moon is most covered, on Friday, Aug. 28, at 12:12 a.m. ET. The eclipse will end at 3:01 a.m.
Tips for viewing the lunar eclipse
The lunar eclipse is visible to the naked eye, and observers will not require any visual aids, such as telescopes or binoculars, to view it, according to Cappelluti. Your phone can also be used to capture pictures of the eclipse.
"Even the zoom of your iPhone can give you very nice pictures," Cappelluti said.
Those who plan to stay up at night to watch the eclipse and want the optimal experience should do the following:
- Check the weather and cloud cover in your area to ensure conditions are optimal for viewing the celestial events.
- Find a dark location away from light pollution.
- Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark.
- Avoid looking at phones or bright lights.
When is the next lunar eclipse?
There have been four solar and lunar eclipses in 2026, with August's partial lunar eclipse being the last one of the year, according to NASA.
The next lunar eclipse will occur from Feb. 20-21, 2027, and be visible in the Americas. The eclipse will be penumbral, and may be difficult to notice. During a penumbral eclipse, the moon travels through Earth's penumbra, which is the outer part of its shadow, and dims only slightly.
The next toal lunar eclipse, which is a true "blood moon," will occur on Dec. 31, 2028, to Jan. 1, 2029, but will not be visible in Cincinnati, according to Time and Date.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What you'll see and when during 'impressive' lunar eclipse tonight
