The upcoming lunar eclipse promises to be a captivating celestial event for enthusiasts in the Americas. After missing out on this month’s total solar eclipse, the continent will have the best view as Earth’s shadow briefly covers nearly 96% of the moon’s surface. This deep partial eclipse is scheduled for the night of Thursday into Friday.

The moon has been a focal point lately. NASA recently sent astronauts on Artemis II for a record-breaking lunar flyby in April, a precursor to landing on the surface and building a moon base. ‘It’s a great time to be part of the space program,’ commented NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway from the International Space Station. This lunar eclipse follows two weeks after a solar eclipse across Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.

Eclipses occur in pairs because the sun, moon, and Earth align in a way that one obscures the other. The moon’s smaller size and the sun’s distant position make them appear similar in size—a cosmic coincidence. The upcoming eclipse is expected to attract a larger audience than Europe’s solar spectacle. It will be visible to millions across North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, given clear skies.

Astronauts aboard the ISS and China’s orbital post might also witness the event. Space provides a unique perspective for observing cosmic wonders like eclipses and auroras. During this event, Earth will cast a reddish-orange shadow on the moon as it passes between the sun and moon. The partial eclipse phase lasts over three hours, with the total event spanning 5:30 hours.

The eclipse peaks shortly after midnight Eastern Time. Nearly a billion people in the U.S., Canada, and Central and South America will have prime views. More than three billion people—44% of the global population—will be in positions to witness at least part of the eclipse. The moon will be setting in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and rising in Hawaii, causing varied viewing times.

This is the second lunar eclipse of the year and the fourth overall. In March, a total lunar eclipse was visible across America, Australia, and East Asia. The next total lunar blackout is not until New Year’s Eve of 2028, spotlighting Asia and Australia, with North and South America seeing another total lunar eclipse in 2029.

The story is supported by the Associated Press’s Health and Science Department, with assistance from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Department and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. AP is solely responsible for the content.