Following the breathtaking annular Lunar eclipse 2023 that graced the skies over America on the 14th of October a partial lunar eclipse 2023 is now set to captivate stargazers. In this celestial spectacle a portion of the Moon will be obscured by the Earth’s shadow. Unlike the recent “ring of fire” solar eclipse 2023 this lunar event promises a broader viewing range with observers in the UK Africa Asia and Europe all having the opportunity to witness it.
If you’re eager to catch a glimpse of this lunar phenomenon you might be wondering when and where it will occur as well as what to expect. Furthermore for those who are passionate about celestial events we’ve compiled a list of upcoming solar eclipse 2023 over the next decade along with a full Moon calendar and meteor shower guide to make the most of mild nights.
So when is the partial lunar eclipse 2023 happening? The event is set to commence in the UK at 8:35 pm on the 28th of October 2023 with its peak at 9:14 pm and it will conclude at 9:52 pm. Before and after the partial eclipse there will be approximately 90 minutes of a subtler event known as a Penumbral eclipse.
Here are the key times for Lunar eclipse 2023 in UK time:
- Penumbral Lunar eclipse 2023 begins: 7:01 pm
- Partial Lunar eclipse 2023 begins: 8:35 pm
- Maximum Lunar eclipse 2023: 9:14 pm
- Partial Lunar eclipse 2023 ends: 9:52 pm
- Penumbral Lunar eclipse 2023 ends: 11:26 pm
It’s worth noting that only about 6% of the Moon’s surface will be obscured at the height of the eclipse as Dr. Minjae Kim from the University of Warwick’s Department of Physics explains. This means the visual impact will be relatively subtle emphasizing the importance of precise timing for those aiming to capture this event.
On the 28th of October the Moon will rise at 5:27 pm in the east-northeast and will be accompanied by a brilliant Jupiter located almost directly below it. This makes for a delightful celestial pairing as Jupiter approaches opposition on the 3rd of November.
As for the Lunar eclipse 2023 visibility it will be accessible across a wide swath including the UK Europe Africa western Asia and western parts of Australia. Unfortunately this time around it won’t be visible in the United States.
A lunar eclipse 2023 offers a unique advantage over solar eclipses: it’s completely safe to observe with the naked eye since the Moon merely reflects sunlight and does not emit it. You won’t need any protective gear just clear skies and an unobstructed view of the Moon. For the best experience consider finding a location away from the light pollution of urban areas.
Now what sets a partial eclipse apart from a penumbral eclipse? On the 28th of October you’ll have the opportunity to witness both. A penumbral eclipse will occur for approximately 90 minutes on either side of the partial lunar eclipse. During the penumbral phase the Moon passes through the lighter outer part of Earth’s shadow known as the penumbra. This results in a subtle darkening of the Moon but it remains visible. After this the Moon will move into the darker part of Earth’s shadow known as the umbra marking the partial eclipse.
In a total lunar eclipse the Moon completely enters the Earth’s shadow resulting in its famous reddish hue often referred to as the Blood Moon. However during the partial eclipse on the 28th of October only a small portion of the Moon will turn red. The effect will be subtle but discernible particularly when capturing the event in photographs.
Lunar eclipses occur during a full Moon when the Sun Earth and Moon are in perfect alignment. In this scenario the Earth’s shadow obstructs sunlight from reaching the Moon.
If you’re eager for more celestial events the next lunar eclipse for the UK will be a penumbral eclipse on the 25th of March 2024 followed by a solar eclipse on the 8th of April 2024. In the coming years there are several lunar eclipses and solar eclipses scheduled offering numerous opportunities to marvel at the wonders of the cosmos.
So why do lunar eclipses and solar eclipses come in pairs? Solar eclipses are always preceded or followed by lunar eclipses due to the alignment of the Sun Earth and Moon. The Moon’s orbit is tilted about five degrees compared to Earth’s orbit around the Sun which means eclipses don’t occur in every lunar cycle. They happen only when the Moon aligns with the plane of Earth’s orbit. The “paired” solar eclipse mentioned is the ring of fire eclipse that occurred two weeks earlier on the 14th of October 2023.
Here is a list of upcoming lunar eclipses visible in the UK:
- 28 October 2023: Partial
- 25 March 2024: Penumbral
- 18 September 2024: Partial
- 14 March 2025: Total
- 7 September 2025: Total
- 3 March 2026: Total
- 28 August 2026: Partial
- 20-21 February 2027: Penumbral
- 17 August 2027: Penumbral
- 12 January 2028: Partial
- 6 July 2028: Penumbral
- 31 December 2028: Total
- 26 June 2029: Total
- 20-21 December 2029: Total
- 15 June 2030: Partial
- 9-10 December 2030: Penumbral
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