How and when to best see the lunar eclipse from France

A lunar eclipse will be visible next month in France and it will be possible to see without any astronomy equipment. 

The eclipse – caused by the Earth, sun, and moon all aligning – will happen early on September 18, starting at around 02:40, and reaching its peak at 06:41 (just before the sunrise). 

The phenomena will be possible to see across all of France, and most of the world with the exception of parts of south-east Asia and Australia. 

How can I see it? 

Due to the size of the moon, it will be easy to spot without any astronomy equipment or binoculars, although of course these will help you see the event in greater detail. 

In addition, unlike with a solar eclipse, staring directly at the moon is not dangerous for your eyes. 

It is best, however, to find a spot with low light pollution, as the view will be significantly better in rural areas than urban ones. 

If you are planning on staying up late or waking up early, and will be outside, make sure to bring supplies and wrap up warm – early September mornings are a far cry from the mild August temperatures budding stargazers took advantage of during the Perseids meteor shower. 

Read more: PHOTOS: Spectacular Northern Lights captured over France last night