Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Dyes the Sturgeon Moon Blood Red

A near-total lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28 covers up to 96% of the Moon in Earth's shadow, producing a striking copper-red "blood moon".

On the night of August 27-28, 2026, a deep partial lunar eclipse will see approximately 93-96% of the Moon pass through Earth's umbra, the darkest part of our planet's shadow. Astronomy Magazine reports that only a thin sliver along the Moon's northeastern limb will remain bright white, while the rest of the lunar surface will appear a dim, dusky orange or red. Diario AS notes that many astronomers consider this the most impressive lunar eclipse visible from North America until a major eclipse in 2028. The event follows August 12th's total eclipse of the Sun, as noted by Astronomy Magazine.

During a lunar eclipse, Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, blocking much of the sunlight that normally illuminates the lunar surface. According to WROK 1440 AM, some sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere, which scatters away much of the blue light while allowing more red and orange light through. That reddish light reaches the Moon and gets reflected back toward observers on Earth. Mashable similarly explains that the atmosphere scatters much of the blue light, allowing more red and orange light to reach the moon, which is why it can look reddish. The effect is essentially a sunrise and sunset happening around the entire edge of Earth simultaneously, as WROK 1440 AM describes.

Diario AS provides maximum eclipse times across U.S. time zones: 12:12 a.m. EDT on August 28, 11:12 p.m. CDT on August 27, 10:12 p.m. MDT on August 27, and 9:12 p.m. PDT on August 27. The Bergen Record gives Eastern time zone viewers a detailed timeline: the penumbral eclipse begins at 12:13 a.m. EDT, partial eclipse begins at 12:34 a.m., maximum eclipse at 1:47 a.m., partial eclipse ends at 3:00 a.m., and the eclipse ends at 3:22 a.m. EDT. Laramie Live reports that peak maximum over Wyoming skies should occur at approximately 10:00 p.m. local time.

Multiple outlets emphasize that unlike the recent total solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch without eclipse glasses or protective filters. Mashable, the Bergen Record, WROK 1440 AM, and Laramie Live all confirm that no special equipment is needed. Mashable recommends heading somewhere with a clear view of the sky and as little light pollution as possible. Laramie Live adds that a pair of standard binoculars or a small backyard telescope will reveal sharp details of crater rims slipping in and out of Earth's shadow, though naked-eye viewing works perfectly fine for the entire event.

Diario AS reports the eclipse will be visible across most of North America, South America, Europe, and Africa, with North America particularly well positioned. Astronomy Magazine describes visibility across North and South America, Africa, and western Europe. The Bergen Record confirms the eclipse will be visible throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and much of North America, noting that cloud cover will likely be the biggest obstacle for local skywatchers. Laramie Live reports that Wyoming falls in what they call the "Yellow Zone," meaning the best chance to see the Maximum Phase with a deep copper-red moon.

Astronomy Magazine catalogs a full week of celestial events surrounding the eclipse. On August 21, the Moon passes 0.6° south of Antares in Scorpius. August 22 brings the Moon to apogee and a chance to observe Saturn's moon Titan. August 23 features a binary star in Corona Borealis, while August 24 offers a challenging view of Saturn's two-toned moon Iapetus at eastern elongation. August 25 presents M73 in Aquarius, and August 26 highlights Barnard's Star in Ophiuchus, which Astronomy Magazine notes has the greatest proper motion of any star we know at 10.3" per year.