Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Will Give the Moon A "Blood Red" Glow
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August has already treated skywatchers to the Perseid meteor shower and a total solar eclipse. Now, they will be able to enjoy another spectacular celestial event — a deep partial lunar eclipse that will occur overnight from August 27 to 28, 2026.
The eclipse will be seen across much of Earth’s night side. However, the best views will be from North America, Central America, and South America. In these regions, all stages of the eclipse will be visible high in the sky on the night of August 27. Depending on your location, the best time to watch will be from late evening until around midnight. Europe and Africa are a few hours ahead. As a result, viewers there will only see the start of the eclipse before the Moon sets on the morning of August 28.
Why this partial eclipse is special
Lunar eclipses happen only during a full moon, when Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon. When the three celestial bodies line up, Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon and casts its shadow across the lunar surface.
Usually, during a partial lunar eclipse, only a small part of the Moon enters Earth’s darkest shadow, known as the umbra. However, this upcoming deep partial eclipse is different. About 96.2% of the Moon’s surface will move into the shadow. This will create a
"Blood Moon" effect, similar to the one seen during a total lunar eclipse.
The Moon's reddish-brown color is caused by sunlight being refracted, or bent, as it passes through Earth’s atmosphere. Shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue and green, are scattered in all directions. However, the longer red and orange wavelengths pass through the atmosphere and reach the Moon, making it appear red.
“The exact color that the Moon appears depends on the amount of dust and clouds in the atmosphere,” NASA scientists told Space.com. “If there are extra particles in the atmosphere, from say a recent volcanic eruption, the Moon will appear a darker shade of red."
How to watch
Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is safe to watch with the naked eye. It also remains visible for much longer. The main partial phase of the August eclipse will last 3 hours and 18 minutes. This will give fans plenty of time to enjoy the event.
Resources: NASA.gov, Space.com, Wikipedia.org
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26 Comments
kamylizyniho4 daysThat would like to see that
omega_ranger4 daysdang I wanna see that
godlovesme5 daysthis is lit- godlovesme5 daysthis is sick
- godlovesme5 daysI hope you can see it from California.because this is just so cool
iloveaxolotls5 days🔥#cool#🔥- iloveaxolotls5 daysThat is going to be so cool to see. I can't wait. It's going to be slay. Like period girly. I have actually never seen one so I am so excited.
jesusanddogs135 daysWell yeah, but sometimes eclipses are more visible in certain parts of a continent, not necessarily all of the parts.- jesusanddogs135 daysI hope you can see it from Oklahoma...
kyle_kornball4 daysim from oklahoma too
detyzemogase5 daysprobably since Oklahoma is in north america
rogymomicyme5 daysCan’t wait
