Near-total lunar eclipse will darken 96% of moon, Americas get prime view
A deep partial lunar eclipse covering about 96% of the moon will occur Thursday night into Friday, with the Americas offering the best visibility.
On Thursday night into Friday, the moon will enter Earth’s shadow, resulting in a deep partial eclipse that masks roughly 96% of its surface. Viewers throughout the Americas will have the most complete sight of the event, while audiences in Europe, Africa and the Middle East may catch only the ending phases. This celestial show arrives two weeks after a total solar eclipse that crossed Greenland, Iceland and Spain, illustrating the typical pairing of solar and lunar eclipses.
NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway, speaking from the International Space Station, highlighted the momentum of the current space program, noting recent Artemis II activities. The International Space Station’s commander, Jessica Meir, added that space offers a unique perspective for such phenomena, and the eclipse could also be seen from China’s orbiting outpost. The partial eclipse will last over three hours, with the entire passage through Earth’s penumbra and umbra extending about five and a half hours, reaching its maximum just after midnight EDT.
Why it matters
The eclipse offers a rare, widely visible astronomical event that engages millions and highlights ongoing space exploration efforts.
In this story
