Derekscope

93% Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)

• At the maximum of the eclipse (5am BST)
  Around 93% of the Moon’s visible surface will be covered by the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow (the umbra) for viewers in the UK in the early morning hours of Friday 28th August 2026.

• The Moon will be very low on the west-southwestern horizon during its peak, so you will need to find an elevated spot with a completely clear, unobstructed view to the southwest.
  o

• UK Timings (BST):
  – 02:23 am ~ Penumbral eclipse begins (a subtle, hard-to-see shading).
  – 03:33 am ~ Partial eclipse begins (the shadow noticeably takes a bite out of the Moon).
  – 05:12 am ~ Maximum eclipse (the peak of the spectacular deep shadow ~ Blood Moon).
  – 06:15 am ~ The Moon sets while still partially eclipsed.
  o
  o
• Why is the Moon red?
  The Moon turns red during a lunar eclipse because Earth’s atmosphere filters and bends sunlight.
  (More information explained with BSL)
  o
  o
  

Please note
In my BSLvideo, I mentioned looking at the northwest horizon
that was an error. It should be the southwest.
Please accept my apologies for the incorrect information.

Dwarf planet Pluto at Opposition

• Pluto reaches opposition on Wednesday 26 August when Earth passes directly between the Sun and Pluto.
  o
• Although Pluto is still extremely faint, opposition is the best time of the year to observe it because:
  o
  – it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, so it is visible all night.
  – it is at its brightest for the year, around magnitude +14.3 to +14.5, though still far too faint for small telescope.

The Moon’s Jewelled Handle

(Photo above The Jewelled Handle ~ Image by Derek Rowley)
o

• The Jewelled Handle or Golden Handle
  The Moon’s Golden Handle is visible from the UK once each lunar month, roughly 2-4 days after First Quarter Moon, when the Sun grazes the Montes Jura and lights their peaks while Sinus Iridum is still in darkness ~ this creates the bright “handle” effect along the terminator.
  o
• After the First Quarter Moon (half-moonlit), the Moon increases towards the Full Moon in the waxing gibbous phase ~ the time when the Jewelled handle shines brightest.
  o
• This effect is only visible for a few days each month ~ roughly 2-4 days after the first quarter Moon.
  o
• Equipment
  You will need a small telescope or binoculars (8×42 or 10×50) are enough to show the arc beautifully.
  o
• Moonrise & Moonset
  – Date: Saturday 22nd August 2026
  – Moonlit (illumination): 79% (Waxing Gibbous)
  – Constellation: Capricorn (The Sea Goat)
  – Moonrise: 16:36 / 4.36pm (BST)
  – Moonset: 23:11 / 11.11pm (BST)
  o
• The next the Jewelled Handle will be visible on Monday 21st September 2026.
  o
  
  o
  o

Lunar Eclipse
A deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible in the UK
in the early hours of Friday 28th August 2026.

oooo

oooo

• What you will see
  – An exceptionally deep partial eclipse where over 90% of the Moon enters the Earth’s darkest shadow (the umbra).
  – Because it just misses a total eclipse, it will look like an impressive “almost blood moon,” with the lunar surface glowing reddish-orange.

• UK Timings (BST):
  – 02:23 am ~ Penumbral eclipse begins (a subtle, hard-to-see shading).
  – 03:33 am ~ Partial eclipse begins (the shadow noticeably takes a bite out of the Moon).
  – 05:12 am ~ Maximum eclipse (the peak of the spectacular deep shadow ~ Blood Moon).
  – 06:15 am ~ The Moon sets while still partially eclipsed.

• The Moon will be very low on the west-southwestern horizon during its peak, so you will need to find an elevated spot with a completely clear, unobstructed view to the southwest.
  o
• Unlike a solar eclipse, it is completely safe to view with the naked eye.
  o
  o
• Why is the Moon red? in BSL explanation

oooo

oooo
oooo

The Moon at apogee

• The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
  o
• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
  o
  o

Moon at First Quarter

• The 7 days old Moon rises around midday, is highest at sunset, and sets around midnight.
  o
• This is one of the best phases for telescopic observation, as the low Sun angle along the terminator casts long shadows that reveal craters, mountains, and valleys in striking detail.
  o

• Lunar X and Lunar V
  Sunlight catches rims at lunar first quarter to create the bright V and X shapes.

• Best viewing time in the UK
  Not visible for the UK Observers.
  o
  –…Today: Thursday 20th August 2026
  –…Start formation: not visible
  –…Peak visibility: not visible
  –…Fade disappearing: not visible
  –…Visible: not visible (below the horizon)
  o
• The next one will be on Friday 18th September 2026.
  o
• The Moon repeats its cycle every 29½ days, so these effects happen every month, just on slightly different dates – see the complete full timetable for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
  o
• Equipment
  While sometimes visible with high-power binoculars, a telescope is recommended to see the fine detail of the crater rims forming the Lunar X and V.
  o

Conjunction of the Moon and Venus

• The young waxing crescent Moon and Venus form a beautiful pairing in the evening sky on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August 2026.
  o
• Looking toward the western horizon beginning 30–45 minutes after sunset.
  o
• Brilliant Venus will be easy to spot, with the delicate crescent Moon nearby.
  o
• The pairing will be visible to the naked eye and will make an excellent target for binoculars or wide-field photography.
  o
• The evening of Saturday 15 August is likely to be the more photogenic, with the thinner crescent Moon hanging low in the twilight.
  o

Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury

• Jupiter and Mercury are in conjunction, appearing very close together in the morning sky.
  o
• The conjunction occurs in the pre-dawn sky.
  o
• Look 45–60 minutes before sunrise toward the east-northeastern horizon.
  o
• The two planets will be close enough to fit comfortably within the field of view of most binoculars, creating a striking pairing against the brightening dawn.
  o
• However, because they are only about 12° from the Sun, they remain low in the sky and require a clear, unobstructed horizon.
  o
• Stop using binoculars or a telescope before sunrise to avoid accidentally viewing the Sun.
  o

Venus at greatest elongation east

• Venus reaches its greatest eastern elongation, one of the best times to observe it as the “Evening Star”.
  o
• Outstanding in the western sky after sunset.
  o
• Looking 30–45 minutes after sunset toward the western horizon.
  o
• Venus will be unmistakably bright and will remain visible until late evening, making this one of the finest evening apparitions of 2026.
  o