Nearly Total Lunar Eclipse on 28 August Will Give the Americas a Front-Row View
Almost 96 percent of the Moon will slip into Earth’s umbral shadow. Nearly a billion people across the Western Hemisphere will see the entire event.
Global1 min read
Last updated
Skywatchers across the Americas are in for a deep partial lunar eclipse on the night of 27–28 August. At maximum, 96 percent of the Moon’s surface will be covered by Earth’s dark umbral shadow, producing a reddish-orange tint that falls just short of a true total “blood moon.”
The entire sequence lasts five and a half hours. Partial phases begin shortly after 10:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the 27th and reach greatest eclipse just after midnight. The Moon will appear noticeably dimmed and copper-tinged for more than three hours.
Virtually the entire landmass of North and South America will enjoy unobstructed views of the whole eclipse. Europe, Africa and the Middle East will see the eclipsed Moon setting, while Hawaii and parts of the eastern Pacific will catch it rising. Altogether more than three billion people—about 44 percent of the world’s population—can observe at least part of the event if skies are clear.
This is the final eclipse of 2026 and the last of an almost-tetrad that began in 2025. The next total lunar eclipse will not arrive until New Year’s Eve 2028. Because the Moon is near apogee, it will appear slightly smaller than average, making the shadow coverage look even more complete.
No special equipment is required. Binoculars or a small telescope will reveal more surface detail, but the colour change is easily visible to the unaided eye. Urban observers should still find a clear western or eastern horizon, depending on their longitude.
After a summer that included a total solar eclipse visible from parts of the Arctic and northern Europe, the near-total lunar event offers a widely accessible celestial finale for 2026.
