Michigan will experience a lunar eclipse Thursday, Aug. 27, during this month's full moon, and an added highlight could bring strong northern lights to night skies.
The partial lunar eclipse will see the moon mostly covered by Earth's shadow during the peak of the sturgeon moon, August's full moon, overnight Thursday, Aug. 27 into early Friday, Aug. 28, according to Space.com.
At the same time, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center says a solar flare this past weekend, could provide strong northern lightsThursday through Sunday,which could be visible throughout Michigan.
If skies are clear, head to one of Michigan's dark sky areas for a closer look at the lunar eclipse.
Want a closer look? Shop telescopes here
Here's what to know about the partial
lunar eclipse.
What time is the lunar eclipse?
August's full moon — the sturgeon moon, a partial lunar eclipse, will occur Aug. 28, and is set to peak at 12:18 a.m., according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
The eclipse will begin at 9:23 p.m. on Aug. 27 and end at 3:01 a.m. on Aug. 28, with maximum totality at 12:12 a.m. on Aug. 28 in cities statewide, Timeanddate.com says.
Will Michigan see the partial lunar eclipse?
Yes, the partial lunar eclipse will be visible in Michigan.
The eclipse will see 96% of the moon covered by Earth's shadow, Space.com says.
How did the sturgeon moon get its name?
The name sturgeon moon comes from the lake sturgeon, native to the Great Lakes and traditionally a key food source for Indigenous tribes during this summer season, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Michigan is home to lake sturgeon, one of the oldest species on the Great Lakes, though human efforts to eradicate the fish led to a steep decline since the 19th and 20th centuries. Statewide efforts are now working to increase the population with support from state, tribal and federal institutions.
Michigan features an annual Black Lake sturgeon fishing season on Black Lake in Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties, with the February 2026 season taking 48 minutes to fill the statewide limit.
How far away from the Earth is the moon?
The average distance between the Earth and the moon is 238,855 miles.
At its farthest from the Earth, the moon is about 252,088 miles away and astronomers say it's at apogee.
When the moon is at perigee, it's 225,623 miles away.
When will the harvest moon peak?
The harvest moon will peak in the early afternoon on Sept. 26, 2026.
Detroit Free Press contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Full moon, lunar eclipse and even northern lights. What's happening
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