In August, one celestial spectacle follows another: After the partial solar eclipse in the middle of the month and the simultaneous peak of the Perseids, a partial lunar eclipse now awaits us as its counterpart. During this event, the full moon will enter the Earth’s umbra, causing the moon to darken. We’ll explain below when and how you can best observe this event.
The Dark Side of the Moon
Just last September, we in Germany were treated to a total lunar eclipse featuring a “blood moon.” Less than a year later, another equally spectacular event is coming up: the partial lunar eclipse on Friday, August 28. Since this isn’t a total eclipse, the moon unfortunately won’t turn red, but with 93% coverage, you can still expect a significant darkening. And if you’re lucky, you might still catch a reddish glow around the edges.
To catch this celestial event, you’ll have to get up early this time. The Moon begins entering Earth’s shadow as early as 3:23 a.m., though it won’t enter the umbra until 4:33 a.m. If that’s still too early for you, you can stay in bed a little longer, because the partial lunar eclipse won’t reach its peak in Munich until 6:12 a.m. Shortly after that, the moon will set, and you’ll be able to admire the sunrise—a wonderful start to the weekend!
Here’s how to observe the partial lunar eclipse in Munich
To witness the partial lunar eclipse in Munich, you should head to a high vantage point with an unobstructed view toward the east . In addition to the Olympiaberg and the Fröttmaninger Berg, the Riemer Berg is also a good spot. Unlike with a solar eclipse, you don’t need special glasses to observe a lunar eclipse. So, fortunately, you can skip the last-minute trip to the optician or the hassle of making a pinhole camera this time.
The Public Observatory is once again inviting you to a special event dedicated to this astronomical phenomenon. It will open its doors for you at 4:15 a.m., and you’ll be able to observe the partial lunar eclipse together through telescopes from the observation deck. There will also be fascinating explanations about the background of this natural phenomenon, and of course, you’re welcome to ask questions.
📍 Location: Public Observatory, corner of Gisela-Stein-Str. and Ludwig-Jung-Str.
📅 Date: Friday, August 28, starting at 4:15 a.m.
💶 Price: €10 regular, €7 reduced
