Following the solar eclipse on August 12, the skies over Porto have another phenomenon in store for the coming days. In the early morning hours of August 28, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible to the naked eye throughout the city—and this time, no special equipment is needed.
What time does it happen?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth positions itself between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow onto the Moon. In this case, only part of the Moon enters that shadow. The phenomenon begins discreetly at 2:23 a.m., when the Moon enters the Earth’s penumbra, and intensifies at 3:33 a.m., once it is within the umbra—the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow. The highlight comes around 5:12 a.m., with about 96% of the lunar disk covered, and the eclipse continues even after the Sun rises.
This time, no need to hunt for eclipse glasses
Unlike the solar eclipse, which forced half the country to seek out certified eclipse glasses, this lunar eclipse can be observed directly, without any risk to your eyesight. The recommendation is to find a location with minimal artificial light nearby and an unobstructed horizon. As the eclipse progresses, the Moon will gradually lose its brightness and may take on a reddish hue —a normal effect of this type of eclipse and no cause for concern.
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