A nearly total lunar eclipse will be visible across Northeast Texas Thursday night, and East Texas A&M University is opening its observatory to give the public a closer look.
The university’s Planetarium will host a free observatory open house from 9:30 to 11:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. The eclipse will reach its maximum at about 11:12 p.m., when nearly 94% of the moon will be within Earth’s shadow.
“This particular lunar eclipse, it’s not completely full, but it’s close,” Planetarium Director Kent Montgomery said. “We’re at about 93%. So the moon will turn a reddish color.”
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the sun and moon, causing Earth’s shadow to fall across the lunar surface. NASA classifies Thursday night’s event as a partial lunar eclipse visible from the Americas as well as portions of Europe, Africa and western Asia.
Montgomery said the reddish appearance comes from sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the moon, similar to the process that produces red and orange colors around sunset.
No special equipment or protective eyewear is needed to watch a lunar eclipse.
“You can look up and see it,” Montgomery said. “But if you want to watch it through a telescope, come out to the observatory.”
Several 10-inch telescopes will be available for public viewing, with Planetarium staff on hand to help visitors and answer questions.
Montgomery said visitors can arrive anytime after 9:30 p.m., although those hoping to see the eclipse at its most dramatic should plan to be there closer to 11 p.m.
The event is weather-dependent. The observatory does not have restroom or drinking-water facilities, and visitors are encouraged to dress for changing nighttime temperatures.
