A Near-Total Lunar Eclipse This Week Will Be the Best Until 2028

An Almost-Blood Moon Is Coming Thursday Night

Don't let the word "partial" fool you. When most people hear the words "partial lunar eclipse," they might assume it will be less impressive than a total eclipse — but the August 27–28 event is anything but ordinary. At maximum eclipse, 96.2% of the moon will be immersed in Earth's umbra, the darkest part of our planet's shadow. That makes it, for all practical purposes, a blood moon in everything but name.

While nowhere on Earth will experience a total lunar eclipse, the August 2026 event will be an exceptionally deep partial eclipse. At peak coverage, Earth's central core shadow will cover up to 96% of the Earth-facing side of the moon, meaning almost the whole of the full moon will display a rich, rusty red hue. It won't be a true "blood moon" because at no point will there be lunar totality — when the entire lunar surface falls under Earth's shadow — but the visual difference will be nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye.

This deep partial lunar eclipse will be the best lunar eclipse anywhere on Earth until New Year's Eve 2028. August 2026 is proving to be a spectacular month for astronomy, following the August 12 total solar eclipse across Spain, which gave viewers in the rest of Europe, the UK, and North America a beautiful partial solar eclipse, plus the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. This lunar eclipse is the dramatic finale to an already remarkable summer sky.

When, Where, and What to Expect

The eclipse begins at 9:23 p.m. EDT on August 27, when the moon enters Earth's faint outer shadow, known as the penumbra. The moment worth setting an alarm for is eclipse maximum — 12:12 a.m. EDT on August 28 (11:12 p.m. CDT, 10:12 p.m. MDT, 9:12 p.m. PDT on August 27) — when roughly 96% of the moon sits inside Earth's deepest shadow and the coppery-red color is strongest.

The entire eclipse will last 5 hours and 38 minutes, from 01:23 to 07:01 UTC. The partial phase alone will last 3 hours and 18 minutes, from 02:34 to 05:52 UTC. During the August 2026 eclipse, the full "Sturgeon Moon" will rise and, later that night, pass into Earth's umbral shadow. As it does, the full moon will dim and, as the partial eclipse reaches its peak, look slightly reddish-orange.

The Americas get the best overall view, while Europe and Africa see the eclipse close to moonset. In Asia and nearby regions outside the visibility zone, the moon will be below the horizon during the event. For stargazers on the West Coast in cities like Los Angeles and Portland, the point of maximum eclipse will arrive just a few hours after sunset. Anyone watching from East Coast cities including New York and Jacksonville will see the lunar spectacle peak around midnight local time.

No Special Gear Required — But Here's What Helps

Unlike the solar eclipse that swept Spain earlier this month, this one requires zero protective gear. The August 27–28 lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye from start to finish, since it's simply Earth's shadow falling across the moon rather than direct sunlight. You don't need any special equipment to view a lunar eclipse — they are safe to view with the eye alone — but binoculars and telescopes do enhance the view.

A clear view toward the horizon, away from streetlights or tall buildings, matters far more than any equipment. According to Time and Date, about 12% of the world's population — 987 million people — will see all phases of the eclipse, while around 16%, or 1.3 billion people, will see all of the partial phase. Viewing conditions will depend on local weather, with western U.S. states, northern Chile, and inland Brazil statistically offering the best odds of clear skies.

A Rare Opportunity Before a Long Wait

You will definitely see the eclipse when the partial phase begins — it will look as if a dark bite has been taken out of the moon's face. That darkness will slowly creep across the moon's surface until the moon is almost fully submerged in Earth's shadow. The progression is gradual and mesmerizing, unfolding over hours rather than the fleeting seconds of a solar eclipse.

The next total lunar eclipse won't arrive until December 31, 2028–January 1, 2029, dubbed the New Year's Blood Moon Eclipse. For anyone who misses Thursday night's show, that's a more than two-year wait for the next comparable spectacle. With clear skies in the forecast across much of North America, this is one night worth stepping outside and simply looking up