How to See the Partial Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon on August 27

如何观测 8 月 27 日的月偏食与“血月”

If you missed the spectacular solar eclipse earlier this month, you have a chance to catch another stunning astronomical phenomenon: a partial lunar eclipse and “blood moon” that will occur on Thursday night into Friday early morning. 如果你错过了本月初那场壮观的日食，那么你还有机会目睹另一场令人惊叹的天文现象：将于周四晚间至周五凌晨发生的月偏食及“血月”。

Earth’s shadow will cover nearly all of the bright lunar disk and will cast a reddish or orange hue on the moon’s surface. 地球的阴影将覆盖几乎整个明亮的月盘，并为月球表面投射上一层红色或橙色的色调。

The partial phase will last about three hours and 18 minutes. At its peak, it will have a threshold magnitude of 0.93, meaning that approximately 93 percent of the moon’s diameter will be within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow. Here’s what to expect and how to view it. 月偏食阶段将持续约 3 小时 18 分钟。在食甚（峰值）时，其食分将达到 0.93，这意味着月球直径约 93% 的部分将进入地球本影的最深处。以下是观测指南及预期效果。

August Lunar Eclipse Timeline

8 月月食时间表

While Europe was the prime viewing spot for the recent solar eclipse, the Americas will be the best location for viewing Thursday’s lunar event. The peak will occur at night across North and South America. Europe will also get a glimpse, but viewers there will have to wait until dawn. Even then, opportunities will be limited. In locations across Spain, for example, the breaking of day and the moon’s low altitude will make observation difficult. (Don’t feel too bad for folks there, though. They got a stunning view of the total solar eclipse a few weeks ago.) 虽然欧洲是近期日食的最佳观测点，但美洲将是周四月食的最佳观测地。北美和南美地区将在夜间迎来月食峰值。欧洲也能看到部分过程，但观测者必须等到黎明时分。即便如此，观测条件也将受到限制。例如在西班牙各地，由于天色渐亮且月球仰角较低，观测难度较大。（不过，不必为那里的人们感到遗憾，他们几周前刚刚欣赏过壮观的日全食。）

Below is a list of the best times to observe the lunar eclipse in different cities, using local times for when the event will reach its peak. If you’re wanting to get the full experience, though, you can look toward the sky earlier and plan to stick around after. 以下是不同城市观测月食的最佳时间列表，所列时间为当地月食达到峰值的时刻。如果你想获得完整的观测体验，建议提前抬头仰望，并计划在峰值过后继续观察。

• New York: 12:14 am

• Chicago: 11:14 pm

• Denver: 10:14 pm

• Los Angeles: 9:14 pm

• Mexico City: 10:14 pm

• Lima: 11:14 pm

• Buenos Aires: 1:14 am

• London: 5:12 am

• 纽约：凌晨 12:14

• 芝加哥：晚上 11:14

• 丹佛：晚上 10:14

• 洛杉矶：晚上 9:14

• 墨西哥城：晚上 10:14

• 利马：晚上 11:14

• 布宜诺斯艾利斯：凌晨 1:14

• 伦敦：凌晨 5:12

What Causes a Blood Moon?

什么是“血月”？

During a lunar eclipse, the moon usually takes on reddish tones. If the eclipse is total, it’s called a blood moon. The reason? Sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere before hitting the moon’s surface. During that passage, some of that light—specifically the blue wavelengths—is filtered out by the atmosphere leaving only the red end of the spectrum to reach the moon. The eclipse will be full enough that the effect will be pronounced. 在月食期间，月球通常会呈现出红色的色调。如果月食是全食，则被称为“血月”。原因何在？阳光在照射到月球表面之前会穿过地球大气层。在穿过过程中，部分光线（特别是蓝色波长的光）被大气层过滤掉，只有光谱中红色的部分能够到达月球。此次月食程度足够深，因此这种效果将非常显著。

“It’s as if all of the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the moon,” explains NASA. 美国国家航空航天局（NASA）解释道：“这就像是将全世界所有的日出和日落都投射到了月球上。”

How Can You Best View a Lunar Eclipse?

如何更好地观测月食？

Unlike solar eclipses, you don’t need special eye protection to observe them. You can look directly at the moon during all phases of the event. However, there are a few tips that can significantly enhance your viewing experience. 与日食不同，观测月食不需要特殊的护眼设备。在月食的所有阶段，你都可以直接用肉眼观看。不过，以下几点建议可以显著提升你的观测体验。

The first is basic but very useful: Get away from areas with light pollution and try to find an unobstructed view of the sky. The roof or terrace of a house can be a good observation spot. Even if you can’t get out of the city, though, you’ll still be able to see the eclipse (weather permitting). 第一点虽然基础但非常有用：远离光污染严重的区域，尽量寻找视野开阔的地方。屋顶或露台都是不错的观测点。即使你无法离开城市，只要天气允许，你依然可以看到月食。

You can also pick out your spot to post up before the eclipse reaches its maximum extent. Observing earlier will allow you to appreciate how the Earth’s shadow gradually advances across the lunar surface. 你也可以在月食达到最大程度之前选好位置。提前开始观测，能让你欣赏到地球阴影在月球表面逐渐推进的过程。

If you have binoculars or a telescope, you should absolutely grab them or get set up beforehand. They’ll allow you to see more details of the moon and the advancing shadow across its surface. If you have a telescope, pay special attention to the boundary between the illuminated part of the moon and the area covered by Earth’s shadow. As the shadow advances, you’ll be able to see how it crosses craters, mountains, and other features. 如果你有双筒望远镜或天文望远镜，一定要提前准备好。它们能让你看到月球更多的细节以及阴影在月表推进的过程。如果你使用望远镜，请特别留意月球被照亮部分与被地球阴影覆盖区域之间的边界。随着阴影推进，你可以观察到它如何越过陨石坑、山脉和其他地形特征。

No binoculars or telescope on hand, but still hoping to get a zoomed-in view? Check out your local science museum, observatory, or astronomy club to see if they’re having an eclipse party. And if it’s cloudy where you are, you can watch the eclipse unfold via a livestream. (Here’s where you’ll find Time and Date’s livestream, for example.) 手头没有望远镜，但仍希望能看到放大的景象？可以查看当地的科学博物馆、天文台或天文俱乐部是否举办了月食观测活动。如果当地多云，你也可以通过直播观看月食过程。（例如，你可以在 Time and Date 网站找到直播链接。）

Finally, don’t just look at the moon. As its brightness dims during the lunar eclipse, the stars surrounding it will become easier to make out. Near the peak of the eclipse, it’s worth putting down your binoculars or telescope for a few minutes to gaze at the entire sky. 最后，不要只盯着月球看。当月食期间月球亮度变暗时，周围的星星会变得更加清晰可见。在月食接近峰值时，不妨放下望远镜，花几分钟时间仰望整片星空。

This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish. 本文最初发表于《连线》西班牙语版，由西班牙语翻译而来。