Lunar Eclipse of August 27–28, 2026
A deep partial eclipse sinks 96% of the Moon into Earth's shadow — nearly a total blood moon. Here is exactly when each phase happens in your timezone, and where to look.
— Countdown to the penumbral eclipse
The partial phase — the part worth setting an alarm for — begins about 70 minutes after the countdown reaches zero.
FIG. 01 — Eclipse phases in your timezone
Every phase, converted to your local timezone
Penumbral eclipse begins
The Moon enters Earth's outer shadow. Shading is faint at first.
(01:24 UTC)
Partial eclipse begins
The Moon touches the umbra. A dark bite appears on the lunar disk.
(02:34 UTC)
Greatest eclipse— deepest point
96% of the Moon sits inside the umbra. Expect a deep coppery color.
(04:13 UTC)
Partial eclipse ends
The Moon leaves the umbra. The bright limb grows back.
(05:52 UTC)
Penumbral eclipse ends
The Moon exits the outer shadow. The eclipse is over.
(07:02 UTC)
Times are computed with your device's timezone via the browser Intl API — no location permission needed. In the Americas the eclipse falls on the evening of August 27 local time; in Europe and Africa it runs before dawn on August 28.
Lunar Eclipse — August 27–28, 2026
A 96% lunar eclipse: what you'll see and when to look
On the night of August 27–28, 2026, the full Moon passes deep into Earth's shadow. At greatest eclipse — 04:13 UTC — 96% of the lunar disk sits inside the umbra, leaving one thin bright sliver. The shadowed portion should glow copper-red, so this deep partial eclipse will look almost like a total blood moon.
Where the eclipse is visible
The eclipse can be seen from the Americas, Europe, Africa, the eastern Pacific, Greenland, and Antarctica. North and South America get the best show, with the whole eclipse unfolding on the evening of August 27 local time while the Moon rides high in the sky. Europe and West Africa see the eclipsed Moon low in the west before dawn on August 28, setting as the partial phase ends.
How to watch a lunar eclipse
- No eye protection needed — lunar eclipses are safe to watch.
- Check the phase table above for times in your timezone.
- Find an open sky; in the Americas look south and east.
- Binoculars reveal the curved edge of Earth's shadow — the observation that told ancient astronomers the Earth is round.
Why the Moon turns red
Earth's umbra is not black. Sunlight grazing the edge of our planet is bent and filtered by the atmosphere, which scatters blue light away and lets red light through — every sunrise and sunset on Earth, projected onto the Moon at once. Because this eclipse is so deep (umbral magnitude 0.93), nearly the whole disk should take on that copper color, with the remaining sliver blazing white in the penumbra.
Keep exploring the sky
August 2026 lunar eclipse FAQ
What time is the lunar eclipse on August 28, 2026?
In Universal Time, the penumbral phase begins at 01:24 UTC, the partial phase at 02:34 UTC, greatest eclipse comes at 04:13 UTC, and the partial phase ends at 05:52 UTC on August 28, 2026. For the Americas this is the evening of August 27 local time; this page converts every phase to your local timezone automatically.
Where is the August 2026 lunar eclipse visible?
The eclipse is visible from the Americas, Europe, Africa, the eastern Pacific, Greenland, and Antarctica. The Americas see the whole eclipse with the Moon high in the sky, while Europe and Africa catch it near moonset before dawn.
Is the August 2026 eclipse a total lunar eclipse?
No — it is a very deep partial eclipse. At maximum, about 96% of the Moon's disk lies inside Earth's umbra (umbral magnitude 0.93), leaving only a thin bright sliver. It will look nearly total.
Will the Moon turn red during the eclipse?
Mostly, yes. The shadowed 96% of the Moon should glow a deep copper-red, because sunlight bending through Earth's atmosphere is filtered toward red before reaching the Moon — the same physics that colors sunsets.
Do I need special glasses or a telescope to watch a lunar eclipse?
No. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye. Binoculars or a small telescope simply make the shadow's edge and the red coloring easier to see.
When is the next lunar eclipse after August 2026?
The next partial lunar eclipse is on January 11–12, 2028, and the next total lunar eclipse — a blood moon — arrives on December 31, 2028. The eclipses during 2027 are all subtle penumbral events.
Contact times from the NASA GSFC eclipse catalog, cross-checked with EarthSky. Timezone conversion happens in your browser.