📸 Photography Tip
Do not expose the Moon as though you are photographing an ordinary Full Moon throughout the entire event.
As Earth’s shadow covers more of the lunar surface, the eclipsed portion becomes dramatically darker, meaning exposure requirements change substantially.
If reddish or copper colouring becomes visible near maximum, experiment with longer exposures while keeping the camera firmly supported.
And please occasionally look away from the camera.
We have just spent an entire month being reminded that astronomical events are considerably better when experienced with your actual eyes instead of entirely through a screen.
🗓 WEEK AT A GLANCE
| Date | Astronomical Event |
| August 24 | Final day of Perseid meteor activity |
| August 24–27 | 🌔 Waxing Gibbous Moon |
| August 27 | ☄️ Kappa Cygnids near end of activity |
| August 27–28 | 🌑 Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse |
| August 28 | 🌕 Full Moon |
| August 29–30 | 🌖 Waning Gibbous Moon |
| August 29 onward | ☄️ Aurigid meteor activity begins |
🌠 How to Make the Most of This Week
If you do only one astronomical thing this week, watch the lunar eclipse.
For observers in North America, the timing is wonderfully convenient, so there is very little excuse beyond cloud cover and an extremely persuasive sofa.
For Britain and Iceland, the alarm clock will hurt a little more, but this is a 96.2% partial lunar eclipse, and those do not arrive every other Friday.
Find your viewing location during daylight rather than wandering around at 4 AM trying to decide whether a hill is blocking the Moon.
Check the western or southwestern horizon.
Bring binoculars if you have them.
Dress properly.
Make something hot to drink.
And watch Earth itself become part of the show.
That is the part I always find extraordinary about lunar eclipses.
When you look at that enormous curved shadow moving across the Moon, you are looking at our planet’s shadow.
You are standing on the object creating it.
There is something wonderfully humbling about that.
Two weeks ago, the Moon’s shadow raced across Earth during a total solar eclipse.
This week, Earth returns the favour.
August 2026 really did save one of its best lines for last.