Aug 27 2026 Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Reaches 96.2% Coverage

Earth’s umbra will move across the Moon during a deep partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28, with maximum coverage of 96.2% of the lunar disk, according to TimeandDate and Space.com. Observers on the night side of Earth can watch the shadow darken and tint the Moon copper red or deep orange, weather permitting.

At maximum eclipse, 96.2% of the Moon will slip into Earth’s dark central shadow known as the umbra, leaving only a thin sliver brightly illuminated, according to Time and Date. Multiple sources describe the overall appearance as nearly a “blood moon” effect, even though the event is not total.

The eclipse begins with the Moon entering Earth’s shadow and progresses through penumbral and partial umbral phases, according to Sky at Night Magazine. During the partial (umbral) stage, a dark “bite” forms on the Earth-facing side as the Moon slides deeper into the core shadow.

Space.com reported that the first glimpse of Earth’s umbra reaches the Moon at 10:33 p.m. EDT on Aug. 27 (0233 GMT on Aug. 28), with maximum eclipse at 12:12 a.m. EDT (0412 GMT). The shadow advances across crater-scarred lunar terrain until the peak coverage, Space.com said.

Viewers in North and South America are positioned for the full event timing, while parts of Europe and Africa see it before dawn on Aug. 28 as the Moon sets in later stages, according to Space.com. Sky at Night Magazine also said the eclipse is visible from North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of western Asia, weather permitting.

For North America, Sky at Night Magazine provided city times for greatest eclipse, including 00:12 on Aug. 28 in New York, 23:12 on Aug. 27 in Chicago, Houston, and Winnipeg, 22:12 on Aug. 27 in Denver, 21:12 on Aug. 27 in Los Angeles, and 01:12 on Aug. 28 in Halifax. It also listed 00:12 on Aug. 28 for Montreal and Toronto.

Binoculars or a small telescope can show sharper lunar details as the shadow moves, according to Space.com and Sky at Night Magazine. Both sources said special eye protection used for solar eclipses is not required for lunar eclipses, because the Moon and Earth’s shadow are safe to observe with the naked eye.