Blood Moon – Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Coming Thursday Night

It's not Halloween yet, but a great Blood Moon partial eclipse is coming this week, and Texarkana weather permitting, of course, we should have a good view of this lunar event late Thursday night.

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Here's the Timeline

• 8:23 PM Thursday: The eclipse's subtle penumbral phase begins, although the change may be difficult to notice.
• 9:33 PM: The partial eclipse begins, and the Moon will begin moving into Earth's darker shadow.
• 11:12 PM: Maximum eclipse. About 93% of the Moon will be inside Earth's umbra, leaving just a small bright portion.
• 12:51 AM Friday: The partial phase ends.
• 2:01 AM: The entire eclipse ends.

Where To Look

At the moon... (sorry, I had to)

Technically speaking, at maximum, the Moon will be about 37 degrees above the southeastern horizon, making it nicely positioned for viewing. Look generally east-southeast early in the evening, with the Moon moving toward the south as the night progresses.

So, yes, it's a partial eclipse for Texarkana, but it's a particularly deep one. The eclipsed portion should take on the familiar reddish-orange or copper color commonly referred to a "blood moon."

Best Ways to Watch

No special equipment or eye protection is needed. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is safe to view with your eyes.

• Find a spot with a good view of the southeastern and southern sky.
  Binoculars or a telescope can make the Moon's changing colors and shadow much more impressive.
• Give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to the darkness and keep nearby lights to a minimum.
• Of course, clear skies are the big variable. Check the forecast Thursday evening before heading outside.

How to Photograph It With Your Phone

You can get surprisingly good results with a smartphone.

• Use a tripod or brace the phone against something solid. The biggest enemy is camera shake.
• Tap the Moon on your screen to focus, then lower the exposure so the Moon doesn't become a bright white blob.
• If your phone has a telephoto/zoom lens, use that rather than digital zoom when possible.
• Try several exposures as the eclipse progresses. The nearly eclipsed Moon will be much dimmer than a normal full Moon.
• A landscape shot with the Moon, trees or buildings in the foreground can sometimes make a better photo than trying to fill the entire frame with the Moon.
• Don't be afraid to take lots of pictures. Your phone may surprise you.

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For more information, check out these resources: NASA's August 2026 Skywatching Guide and Timeanddate's Texarkana Eclipse Guide have additional viewing information and eclipse details.

Happy Skywatching!