Welcome to another episode of The Observers Notebook, the official podcast of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), where we take you From Stargazing to Science. I'm your host, Tim Robertson, and today we're looking ahead to one of the year's most anticipated celestial events—the deep partial lunar eclipse occurring on the night of August 27–28, 2026. While this won't be a total lunar eclipse, nearly the entire Moon will pass through Earth's umbral shadow, creating a spectacular sight for observers across much of the world. It's an event that promises beautiful views through binoculars and telescopes, outstanding photographic opportunities, and, perhaps most importantly, a chance for amateur astronomers to make observations that have genuine scientific value. Joining me are two outstanding members of the ALPO team. First, we'll welcome John O'Neal, Coordinator of the ALPO Eclipse Section. John has spent decades observing and documenting eclipses and will walk us through exactly what we'll see during this eclipse, why this particular event is so special, and how you can make the most of your observing session, whether you're a first-time eclipse watcher or a seasoned veteran. Then we'll be joined by David Teske, Coordinator of ALPO's Lunar Section. David will introduce us to the fascinating world of crater contact timings—carefully timing when well-known lunar craters disappear into and emerge from Earth's shadow. It's a classic observing program that continues to provide valuable scientific data and is something nearly any telescope owner can participate in. So whether you're planning to simply step outside and enjoy one of nature's greatest spectacles, photograph the changing colors of the Moon, or contribute observations to the scientific community, this episode will help you prepare for eclipse night. So sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and let's talk about the August 27–28, 2026 Lunar Eclipse, here on The Observers Notebook. You can contact John at: kohamher1@yahoo.com You can contact David at: drteske@yahoo.com For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at: www.alpo-astronomy.org/ You can also support this podcast at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2 I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook. Our Patreons: Jerry White Jason Inman Bob Lunsford Steve Seidentop Stephen Bennett Michael Moyer Shawn Dilles Damian Allis Carl Hergenrother Michael McShan Michael Blake Nick Evetts Stan Sienkiewicz Carl Hergenrother Stan Sienkiewicz John Rogers Jim McCarthy Stanley McMahan Ken Poshedly
