Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Turns Moon Red This Week

A near-total lunar eclipse will darken 96% of the full Sturgeon Moon overnight Aug.

27-28, 2026, a deep partial lunar eclipse will see roughly 96% of the Moon's diameter pass into Earth's umbral shadow, according to the Bergen Record and Forbes. The event coincides with August's full Sturgeon Moon and will be visible across much of North and South America, Europe, and Africa. Forbes notes the eclipse unfolds gradually over 5 hours and 38 minutes, rewarding patient observation rather than a fleeting spectacle. Unlike August's total solar eclipse earlier in the month, this lunar event requires no special glasses and is completely safe to view with the naked eye.

The Moon does not actually change color during a lunar eclipse. BBC Sky at Night Magazine explains that as sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere, blue wavelengths are scattered while longer red wavelengths are bent and refracted toward the lunar surface. This filtered light gives the shadow a yellow-red, copper, or deep orange hue, producing the popular nickname 'Blood Moon.' The Bergen Report echoes this, noting the same effect that creates colorful sunrises and sunsets on Earth. Because up to 96% of the Moon will be immersed in Earth's umbra at maximum, nearly the entire visible disc may display a rich, rusty red tone, according to BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

Forbes highlights that Saturn will shine near the Moon during the eclipse, creating a striking pairing as the sky transitions from blue to black and the Moon takes on its reddish hue. The partially eclipsed Moon will also sit close to the constellation Capricornus, which Forbes describes as a faint, broad, shallow triangle low in the southern sky. As part of the zodiac, Capricornus lies along the ecliptic — the path traced by the Sun, Moon, and planets. The proximity makes the eclipse window an ideal time to spot the 'sea goat' constellation, which often requires patient observation to discern.

According to the Bergen Record, for viewers in the Eastern time zone, the penumbral phase begins at 12:13 a.m. 28, with the partial phase starting at 12:34 a.m. EDT, and the eclipse ends at 3:22 a.m. EDT. BBC Sky at Night Magazine lists greatest eclipse at 12:12 a.m. EDT for New York and 9:12 p.m. PDT for Los Angeles. FOX Weather reports that approximately 3.3 billion people across North and South America, western Europe, and western Africa will be able to experience the event. The Bergen Record notes that unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is visible from anywhere the Moon is above the horizon.

The Elkins Park Skywatchers in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, are hosting a public observation at High School Park on Aug. 27, with organizers telling Glenside Local the eclipse will be most viewable between 10:07 p.m. and 11:52 p.m. Organizer Hector Ybe said, 'An eclipse is more than something we see in the sky. It's a moment that brings a community together to look up, wonder, and share the experience.' BBC Sky at Night Magazine advises finding a clear horizon, escaping light pollution for the best red hues, and dressing warmly. A standard pair of binoculars or a small telescope can reveal crater rims slipping in and out of Earth's shadow.

Looking ahead, Forbes reports that a new Moon on Sept. 11 will restore dark evening skies ideal for Milky Way observing. Venus continues its climb toward peak brilliance, reaching maximum brightness around Sept. 18, when it will become the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon, according to Forbes. The September equinox on Sept. 23 marks the start of astronomical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing rapidly lengthening nights that may also produce a peak in auroral activity. Forbes notes the famous full Harvest Moon rises at sunset on Sept. 26, the closest full Moon to the equinox, continuing the season of celestial highlights.