August’s Full Moon Brings a Lunar Eclipse

ByChristine Plocar
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People who looked toward the night sky Thursday evening, August 27, and early Friday morning, August 28, were able to see a lunar eclipse. The August full moon passed through Earth’s shadow, creating a deep partial lunar eclipse. At the peak of the eclipse, about 96.3% of the Moon was inside Earth’s darkest shadow, called the umbra. The event was visible across much of North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa. In the United States, the eclipse could be viewed across most of the country, including Wisconsin. In the Sheboygan area, viewers could see the eclipse beginning at about 8:23 p.m. Thursday, with the maximum eclipse at about 11:12 p.m. The eclipse remained visible until about 2:01 a.m. Friday.

A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon. The Moon does not stop producing light; instead, Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching it. During Thursday night’s eclipse, most of the Moon entered Earth’s shadow, while a small section remained outside the umbra. The Moon could take on a copper or reddish color as sunlight passed through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the Moon. The eclipse was safe to watch without special eye protection.

The eclipse was part of a full moon known as the Sturgeon Moon, the traditional name for the August full moon. The name comes from the lake sturgeon, a large freshwater fish that was once caught in greater numbers around this time of year, including in the Great Lakes region. Other traditional names for the August full moon include the Grain Moon and Green Corn Moon.

Lunar eclipses have been part of human stories for thousands of years. Before people understood the science behind eclipses, a dark or red Moon was sometimes seen as a warning or a sign from the gods. Different cultures had different stories about what was happening to the Moon. Some traditions described a creature or spirit taking a bite from the Moon, while others connected the red color with blood or conflict. Today, science explains the event through the alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon, but the old stories remain part of the history of lunar eclipses.

Last night’s eclipse was not a total lunar eclipse, but it came close. Because nearly the entire Moon entered Earth’s umbra, the difference between a deep partial eclipse and a total eclipse was small when viewed in the sky. In the Sheboygan area, viewers needed a clear view toward the east-southeast as the eclipse began. As the night continued, the Moon rose higher in the sky, making the eclipse easier to observe. The event offered an opportunity to see the movement of Earth’s shadow across the Moon. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is safe to watch with the naked eye, making it an event that anyone could observe from a backyard, park or other location with a clear view of the sky.

Sheboygan Life Editor

Christine Plocar - Lifelong Sheboygan Resident & Community Advocate
My name is Christine Plocar, and I am proud to be a lifelong resident of Sheboygan. Growing up on farms in the area, I spent my early years helping my parents raise chickens and horses, and I loved planting gardens that blossomed with each season. Even now, I continue this tradition by raising chickens.

Education has always been important to me. I attended Fairview Elementary in Plymouth, followed by Farnsworth Middle School, and completed my high school education at both North and South High schools in Sheboygan. After the loss of my mother, I returned to school and, in a moment of pride, graduated with my daughter in 2014, earning honors despite the challenges we faced.

My entrepreneurial spirit has been a constant throughout my life. When I got my first computer, I knew that data entry and e-commerce were paths I wanted to explore. The summer of 2022 was a turning point for me when I met Brian Bateman. He saw my potential and gave me the opportunity to learn data entry and website management. Today, I play an active role in managing Sheboygan Life, where I write articles that highlight the positive aspects of our community and work to promote the good in our beloved city.

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