Halloween is more than two months away, but the Moon is getting a head start, taking on a spooky red hue in the last lunar eclipse of the year. But will the weather allow families in Georgia to see it? Here's what we know, including the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service:
What time is the lunar eclipse tonight?
The eclipse begins the night of Aug. 27 and continues into Aug. 28. The most noticeable part starts around 10:33 p.m. Thursday with maximum eclipse occurring around 12:12 a.m. Friday morning. That's when the moon will be deepest in Earth's shadow and at its most dramatic.
Weather Atlanta GA
The skies over the Atlanta and Athens area won't be super stargazer-friendly, but should be decent enough for at least a glimpse of the eclipse. Over 50% cloud cover is expected with a 20-30%
chance of rain. However, if it does rain, it's likely to end before midnight. No fog is in the forecast.
If you do go outside, prepare for it to be warm. While the temperatures are expected to fall below 80 degrees by midnight, relative humidity could rise to 90% or higher.
Weather Augusta GA
Those in the Augusta area may have an even harder time seeing the eclipse, but not impossible. About 70-80% cloud coverage is in the forecast, but there's less than a 20% chance of rain by the time the eclipse peaks. There's no call for fog here either.
Temperatures here will also be below 80 degrees, but relative humidity will sit around 90%.
Weather Savannah GA
Savannah's evening will start very cloudy (around 80% by 8 p.m.), but should drop to a more manageable level by the time the eclipse peaks (around 50% or less by midnight). The chance of rain is low, less than 15% by 12 a.m. No worries about fog.
Temperatures here will be similar to Augusta's, but relative humidity will reach nearly 100%.
Live weather radar
Here's a live radar of conditions in Georgia powered by the National Weather Service:
Will the sturgeon moon become a blood moon?
Astronomers classify this as a deep partial lunar eclipse rather than a total lunar eclipse. But because roughly 93% of the moon will be inside Earth's dark shadow, much of it could take on the reddish color that gives blood moons their name. In other words, if you're hoping to see a moon that looks blood red, you may get your wish.
Do you need eclipse glasses?
Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye. Binoculars can make the view even better, but no special equipment is required.
Shop for binoculars at Bass Pro Shops
Why is it called the sturgeon moon?
The August full moon gets its name from the large sturgeon fish that were historically abundant in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain during late summer. The nickname has been used for generations and remains one of the better-known names on the full moon calendar.
When is the next full moon?
After the August full moon, the September full moon is 12:49 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. It's called the corn moon.
When is the next eclipse?
The next eclipse that will be visible from Georgia is a penumbral lunar eclipse Feb. 20-21, 2027.
Maria Francis of the USA Today Co. contributed to this article.
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Will lunar eclipse be visible tonight in GA? Weather forecast is in
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