Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse to Turn Moon Reddish on Aug. 27-28

A deep partial lunar eclipse will unfold on the night of Aug. 27-28, 2026, as Earth's shadow sweeps across the full moon. According to multiple outlets including Space and Forbes, at maximum eclipse about 96% of the lunar disc will be within Earth's umbra, the darkest part of the shadow, leaving only a thin sliver of the moon directly illuminated. NASA's figures, cited by Newsweek and others, put the coverage at 96.3% of the visible disk, while some reports, such as TCPalm and Irish Mirror, mention about 93% of the moon's diameter being covered. Regardless of the exact figure, all sources agree this will be an especially deep partial eclipse—not a total one—making it very nearly a "blood moon."

The eclipse will be visible, at least in part, from much of North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of western Asia, the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, as well as Antarctica, according to reports from Space, Forbes, and The Hindu. The best views are expected in the Americas, where the entire eclipse will be visible from start to finish. In Europe and Africa, the eclipse will occur before dawn on Aug. 28, with the moon setting during the latter stages. Observers in Ireland, as Irish Mirror notes, will see the moon low in the west-southwest at maximum, setting about an hour later.

The eclipse will not be visible from India, Australia, and parts of the Pacific region, as the moon will be below the horizon during the event. This has led to disappointment for Indian skywatchers, with outlets like Times Now and The Hindu noting that the eclipse coincides with Raksha Bandhan, adding to the interest.

Timing and Duration

The eclipse will reach its maximum at 12:12 a.m. EDT on Aug. 28, which is 4:12 a.m. or 4:13 a.m. UTC depending on the source. For example, Times Now cites 4:12 a.m. UTC, while Newsweek and BBC Sky at Night Magazine give 4:13 a.m. UTC. The Hindu provides the maximum at 9:43 a.m. IST. The entire eclipse, from penumbral start to penumbral end, will last about 5 hours and 38 minutes, according to Forbes, or roughly 5½ hours as stated by NBC News and others. The partial phase, when the moon is clearly in the umbra, lasts more than three hours—about 3 hours and 18 minutes per Times Now.

For observers in specific locations, local timings vary. In Vero Beach, Florida, TCPalm reports the penumbral eclipse begins at 9:23 p.m. EDT on Aug. 27, the partial phase begins at 10:33 p.m., maximum is at 12:12 a.m., and the penumbral eclipse ends at 3:01 a.m. on Aug. 28 (though one time in the report appears to have a typo). For Michigan, M Live says the eclipse begins around 9:30 p.m., peaks around midnight, and ends after 3 a.m. Irish Mirror gives local times for Ireland: the penumbral eclipse starts at 2:24 a.m. and maximum is at 5:13 a.m. on Friday.

Why the Moon Turns Red

During a lunar eclipse, Earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface. According to NASA, as explained by multiple outlets, Earth's atmosphere filters out blue light, allowing red wavelengths to reach the moon, which is why the moon can take on a rusty, coppery, or reddish-orange hue. Because this is a partial eclipse, not all of the moon is covered, so it's not a true "blood moon," but the deep partial coverage will give most of the lunar face a dramatic reddish tint.

Viewing and Safety

All sources agree that the eclipse is safe to view with the naked eye, and no special eclipse glasses are needed—unlike a solar eclipse. Binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view, allowing observers to see craters and lunar seas as they fall into the shadow, as noted by Space and BBC Sky at Night Magazine. Cloud cover or bad weather can affect visibility, so clear skies are essential.

For those unable to view the eclipse directly, several observatories will host free livestreams. Mashable and Newsweek mention Time and Date's live webcast, as well as streams from Griffith Observatory and the Virtual Telescope Project. These will be especially useful for viewers in India and other regions where the eclipse is not visible.

The eclipse is the second lunar eclipse of 2026 and the fourth eclipse overall this year, following a total lunar eclipse in March and a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12. It's also the deepest partial lunar eclipse until Dec. 31, 2028, when the next total lunar eclipse will occur (though for most of the Americas, the next total lunar eclipse won't happen until 2029, per some reports).

Cultural and Astronomical Context

The full moon in August is known as the Sturgeon Moon, named after the fish that were historically abundant in this month, as explained by Mashable and M Live. This year, the eclipse coincides with the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan, which has increased interest in the event among Indian communities, though the eclipse won't be visible from India.

The eclipse is part of the Saros 138 series, according to Newsweek. The previous eclipse in this series occurred on Aug. 16, 2008, and the next will take place on Sept. 7, 2044. This particular eclipse is notable for its depth, making it a "must-see" event for skywatchers, as described by Space.

NASA's Artemis II astronauts, who completed a record-breaking lunar flyby in April, have been cited in reports from NBC News and others. NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway told The Associated Press, "This is a great time to be part of the space program, right? We're not slowing down." The International Space Station's commander, Jessica Meir, also noted that space provides a "unique perspective" for viewing cosmic wonders like eclipses. Astronauts aboard the ISS and China's orbiting outpost may have a view of the eclipse from space.

For skywatchers in the Americas, this eclipse promises to be a memorable event, offering a rare chance to see the moon dramatically darkened, with only a thin sliver of bright light remaining.