Skywatchers across North and South America, the UK, Europe, and Africa are preparing for a deep partial lunar eclipse late Thursday night, August 27, into Friday, August 28, 2026. The celestial event will darken up to 93% of the moon’s diameter, creating a striking coppery red almost blood moon
effect visible to billions.
The upcoming astronomical event arrives just weeks after a total solar eclipse crossed Iceland, Spain and a small portion of Portugal on August 12, 2026.
Timing and Visibility Across the Americas, Europe, and Africa
Observers throughout the Americas will experience the eclipse from start to finish late Thursday night, August 27, into the early hours of Friday, August 28. In eastern time zones, the penumbral phase begins at roughly 9:23 p.m. ET, while the visible partial eclipse officially starts at 10:33 p.m. ET. The peak of the eclipse occurs around 12:12 a.m. to 12:13 a.m. ET, with the entire partial phase lasting nearly three and a half hours before wrapping up around 1:51 a.m. or 1:52 a.m. ET.
Western regions face a slightly different schedule. Viewers in the western United States, western Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii will watch the moon rise while the eclipse is already underway. Meanwhile, early risers in the UK, Europe, and Africa will catch the spectacle as dawn approaches on Friday morning, August 28. In the UK, the partial phase begins at 3:33 a.m. BST, reaching its maximum extent shortly after 5:10 a.m. BST just as the moon sinks toward the western horizon.
What to Expect During the Almost Blood Moon Effect
While this event is not a total lunar eclipse, it is an exceptionally deep one. At maximum eclipse, 93% of the moon’s diameter will be submerged inside Earth’s dark central shadow, known as the umbra. This deep immersion prevents the event from turning completely red, but the lunar surface will still glow with a vivid rusty hue.
“It’s a partial eclipse, so it’s not going to turn 100 per cent red, but depending on where you are in Canada, it will still be pretty red.”
Elaina Hyde, director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory York University’s department of physics and astronomy in Toronto
According to NASA, that rusty coloring happens because the planet blocks most direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The light that does filter through is bent via Earth’s thick atmosphere, projecting the combined effect of all global sunrises and sunsets onto the moon.
Adding to the visual spectacle, the eclipse coincides with the August full moon, known as the Sturgeon Moon on Aug. 28. The bright lunar disk will contrast sharply against the encroaching shadow.
Weather Forecasts and Viewing Conditions in the United States
Clear skies will dictate who catches the full view and who gets left in the dark. A heat dome anchored across the Southwest is expected to keep skies clear for much of the western United States and the Midwest, offering prime viewing conditions. Conversely, scattered showers and thunderstorms across parts of the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and the South could occasionally obscure the sky. The Central Plains may also contend with cloud cover drifting from regional thunderstorms, though summer weather typically avoids the massive, widespread storm systems found during other times of the year.
Equipment Needs and Future Eclipse Timelines
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses require no special protective eyewear. Observers can view the entire event safely with the naked eye.
“This is a naked eye object, but if you have binoculars or a small telescope or just a cellphone camera with a really good night mode, you should be able to get pretty good pictures.”
Elaina Hyde, director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory York University’s department of physics and astronomy in Toronto
Skywatchers hoping for the next total lunar eclipse will face a longer wait; the next total blackout visible on Earth will not occur until New Year’s Eve 2028.
Читайте также
