One of the most striking astronomical events of the year will arrive in South Florida on Thursday night: a nearly total lunar eclipse will be visible from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, starting at 9:23 p.m. and reaching its peak shortly after midnight, reported Telemundo 51.
From Miami, the Earth's shadow will cover nearly the entire diameter of the Moon, and the eclipse will reach a magnitude of 0.93, making the phenomenon visually resemble a total eclipse, even though it technically is not.
The Moon will deeply penetrate the umbra—the darkest part of the Earth's shadow—leaving only a small fraction illuminated directly by the Sun. This nearly complete immersion can cause the lunar surface to acquire reddish, coppery, or orange hues near the peak.
Key schedules for South Florida
The show will unfold in several clearly defined phases throughout the night:
9:23 p.m. — Start of the penumbral eclipse. The Moon enters the faint shadow of the Earth; the change will be almost imperceptible to the naked eye.
10:33 p.m. — The partial phase begins. The shadow starts to visibly cover the lunar disc, and the spectacle becomes apparent.
12:12 a.m. (early morning of Friday the 28th) — Peak of the eclipse. The Moon will be about 51 degrees high towards the south-southeast, a position very favorable for observing it from the metropolitan area.
1:51 a.m. — End of the partial phase.
3:01 a.m. — Conclusion of the penumbral eclipse.
In total, the phenomenon will last for approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes, with a spectacular partial phase lasting around 3 hours and 18 minutes.
Where to look and what to expect
At the beginning of the eclipse, one should face east-southeast. As the night progresses, the Moon will rise and move toward the south, so that at the peak of coverage it will be in a convenient position for any observer in the metropolitan area.
It won’t be necessary to travel to a location with a completely clear horizon to enjoy the main part of the event, although it is advisable to find a spot away from bright lights to enhance the experience.
The good additional news is that the entire eclipse will be visible from start to finish in South Florida, weather permitting.
The Unknown of Time
The weather forecast introduces some uncertainty. The models indicate about a 50% chance of rain or storms in rural areas of Miami-Dade on Thursday, with partly cloudy periods expected by nightfall.
However, the long duration of the phenomenon works in favor of observers: even if a cloud temporarily blocks the Moon, it is likely that breaks will appear in the window between 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., right around the peak.
Why the Moon can appear red
The reddish coloring that the eclipsed part may take on has a precise physical explanation. Part of the sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere before reaching the lunar surface; that atmosphere easily scatters the blue wavelengths and allows the red and orange light to pass through, which ultimately gets projected onto the Moon.
The result is, as the source describes it, "as if all the sunsets on the planet were reflected on the surface of the Moon at that moment."
This eclipse concludes an exceptionally active August in astronomical terms: the total solar eclipse on August 12 was visible as a partial eclipse from Cuba and the Caribbean, and the event this Thursday completes the so-called "eclipse portal" of the month. The timings for Havana are virtually identical to those in Miami, as both cities share the same time zone.
Related videos:
Filed under: