The Night the Moon Turns Red
Lunar Eclipse August 27–28, 2026
In the early hours of 28 August, Earth's shadow swallows 93% of the full Moon — a near-total eclipse that will glow like a blood moon. Scrub the timeline below to preview exactly how the shadow will move.
Look Up at the Right Moment
Visibility From Your City
Will you see it from your city?
From Copenhagen the Moon sets at 06:13, right at maximum eclipse — find a spot with a completely free view toward the west-southwest.
Eclipse Timeline
Minute by Minute
| Event | UTC | Copenhagen (CEST) |
|---|---|---|
| Penumbral eclipse begins (P1) | 01:23 | 03:23 |
| Partial eclipse begins (U1) | 02:33 | 04:33 |
| Maximum eclipse 93% of the Moon inside the umbra | 04:13 | 06:13 |
| Partial eclipse ends (U4) | 05:52 | 07:52 |
| Penumbral eclipse ends (P4) | 07:02 | 09:02 |
Eclipse predictions by Fred Espenak, www.EclipseWise.com
Seven Facts About This Eclipse
The Science Behind the Magic
Why Does the Moon Turn Red?
During a lunar eclipse, the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. But the Moon does not go dark — it turns a deep copper red. The reason is Earth's atmosphere: sunlight grazing the edge of our planet is filtered and bent, blue light scatters away, and only the long red wavelengths are refracted into the shadow. The eclipsed Moon is lit by the combined glow of every sunrise and every sunset on Earth at the same moment.
On the night of 27–28 August 2026, this spectacle reaches an umbral magnitude of 0.932 — meaning 93% of the Moon's diameter sits inside Earth's dark umbral shadow at maximum eclipse (04:13 UTC). It is technically a partial eclipse, but visually it comes within a whisker of a total blood moon: only a thin bright sliver remains along the Moon's northern edge. The partial phase lasts 3 hours and 19 minutes, and the event is best seen from the Americas, with Europe and Africa catching the eclipsed Moon low over the western horizon at moonset. The next comparable sight from Europe is years away — this is the lunar event of 2026.
Eclipse predictions by Fred Espenak, www.EclipseWise.com (JPL DE430). Local times via timeanddate.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the lunar eclipse in August 2026?
On the night of 27–28 August 2026. The partial phase begins at 02:33 UTC and maximum eclipse is at 04:13 UTC on 28 August — that is 06:13 in Copenhagen (CEST), 05:13 in London (BST), 00:13 in New York (EDT) and 21:13 on 27 August in Los Angeles (PDT).
Is it a blood moon?
Nearly. With 93% of the Moon's diameter inside Earth's dark shadow at maximum, almost the entire Moon glows the classic copper-red blood-moon color — only a thin sliver stays bright.
Where is it visible?
The whole eclipse is visible from most of the Americas and the eastern Pacific. Europe and Africa see the eclipsed Moon low in the western sky just before moonset in the early morning of 28 August.
Do I need eclipse glasses?
No — a lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. That is the opposite of a solar eclipse, which always requires certified eye protection.
How long does it last?
The partial phase lasts 3 hours 19 minutes (02:33–05:52 UTC). Including the faint penumbral phases, the full event spans about 5 hours 39 minutes.
What if it's cloudy?
Follow the eclipse live right here on this page — the animation above tracks the real shadow in real time. And check the cloud forecast for your city on our partner site skycastor.com.