Stargazers can watch the lunar eclipse live online as the Moon drifts through Earth's shadow, creating a 'Blood Moon'. The 96.2% partial eclipse is expected to start at 2.33am BST and last more than three hours, with the maximum eclipse at 4.12am BST.
What is a Blood Moon?
Solar and lunar eclipses happen due to a precise alignment of the sun, moon and Earth. The eclipses tend to follow each other, taking advantage of a sweet spot in the celestial bodies' orbits.
As the Moon drifts through Earth's shadow, only a portion of the lunar surface enters the dark central zone called the umbra, while the remainder stays within the lighter outer shadow, or penumbra. This is also known as a 'Blood Moon'. Though the phenomenon stops just shy of being a total lunar eclipse this time, the substantial portion of the Moon is engulfed in Earth's deepest shadow to create a stunning spectacle in the night sky.
Livestream schedule and visibility
The eclipse will be visible throughout the UK and Ireland, as well as from vast areas of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Based on the observer's location and time zone, some regions will witness the event during the late evening of August 27 rather than in the early hours of August 28.
The livestream will take viewers to see the event from different countries, with feeds listed from Buenos Aires' planetarium park in Argentina, Lisbon in Portugal, San Diego in the US, Santiago in Chile, Durham in the UK, Saint John in Canada, and Bogota in Colombia. The schedule may be subject to change.
UK timings for the partial eclipse
The partial lunar eclipse will unfold over several hours in the early morning of 28 August. The penumbral phase kicks off at 2.23am BST, marking the moment when the Moon begins to enter Earth's lighter outer shadow. The more noticeable partial eclipse will commence at 3.33am BST as the Moon moves into the darker umbra. The event reaches its peak at 5.12am BST, when around 93% of the Moon will be engulfed in Earth's deepest shadow.
However, observers in the UK and Ireland won't be able to see the eclipse through to its conclusion, as the Moon will set below the horizon before the event wraps up. In London, moonset is anticipated at approximately 6.15am, though timings will differ depending on location, while the partial eclipse itself is scheduled to conclude at 6.51am BST.
How to view the eclipse
For the best view, sky-gazers should find a high vantage point with an unblocked view of the south-western sky, allowing them to witness as much of the eclipse as possible before the Moon sets. There's no need for specialist equipment or protective eyewear, making it perfectly safe to watch with the naked eye, just like a full Moon.
However, as with any celestial event, visibility will ultimately hinge on the weather, and cloud cover could thwart some people from seeing the eclipse. The livestream offers an alternative for those unable to see it in person.
