Lunar eclipse, fair from here
Penumbral eclipse of the Moon
The full Moon slips through the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow. The whole eclipse is visible from Zimbabwe, high in the sky.
- When
- Sunday, 21 February 2027, 01:12 CAT
- Best time
- 00:30 to 01:50 CAT on Sunday, 21 February 2027
- Where to look
- High in the north
- From Zimbabwe
- Fair from here. Visible from start to finish. At maximum the Moon is about 57 degrees up. The shading is faint and easiest to notice around 01:00.
In a penumbral eclipse the Moon passes through the penumbra, the pale outer shadow of Earth, but misses the dark central umbra. The effect is subtle: around maximum, one side of the Moon looks slightly dusky or tea-stained. It is a good test of how carefully you can observe. The whole eclipse happens with the Moon high in Zimbabwe’s sky.
Tips for watching
Compare the Moon’s two edges by eye or in binoculars around 01:00, or take the same photo every 15 minutes and compare them.
Times are Central Africa Time, worked out for Harare; other towns in Zimbabwe differ by a few minutes. Source: Computed for Harare with Astronomy Engine; cross-checked with TheSkyLive (Harare).