Full Breakdown
Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Darkens Most of Moon on Aug 27-28, 2026
8/24/2026, 12:47:17 AM
Core Event – Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse
On the night of August 27-28 2026 the Earth will pass between the Sun and the full Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. At maximum eclipse more than 96 percent of the Moon’s visible disk will lie within Earth’s dark central umbra, leaving only a thin crescent illuminated by direct sunlight. Though classified as a partial lunar eclipse, the coverage makes it one of the most dramatic eclipses of the decade.
Background & Context – Saros 138 and Eclipse Season
The eclipse belongs to Saros 138, a series that repeats every 18 years 11 days 8 hours. NASA notes the previous eclipse in this series occurred on August 16 2008, and the next will appear on September 7 2044. This deep partial eclipse follows the total solar eclipse of August 12 2026, illustrating the typical “eclipse season” in which a solar and lunar eclipse occur within weeks of each other.
Timeline – Key Phases (Universal Time and Local Times)
- Penumbral phase begins: 01:23 UTC (Aug 28) – Moon enters Earth’s faint outer shadow.
- Partial phase begins: 02:33 UTC (Aug 28) – Moon starts crossing the umbra.
- Maximum eclipse: 04:12 UTC (Aug 28) – 96 percent coverage; a thin sunlit sliver remains.
- Partial phase ends: 05:51 UTC (Aug 28).
- Penumbral phase ends: 07:01 UTC (Aug 28).
Local times: New York – partial phase 10:33 p.m. EDT (Aug 27) to 1:51 a.m. EDT; London – maximum 5:12 a.m. BST (Aug 28); Los Angeles – moonrise 7:17 p.m. PDT (Aug 27), maximum 9:12 p.m. PDT.
Data & Statistics – Coverage, Duration, Visibility
- Coverage: 96.3 percent of the Moon’s visible disk (NASA).
- Partial phase duration: ~3 hours 30 minutes.
- Total eclipse interval (penumbral-to-penumbral): ~5 hours 30 minutes.
- Global audience: NY Daily News estimates nearly 1 billion people in the Americas will see the full event, while about 3 billion (?44 % of the world’s population) will observe at least part of it.
Why It Matters – Viewing and Photography Opportunities
The deep darkness and reddish hue produced by sunlight filtered through Earth’s atmosphere create a “blood-moon-like” appearance, offering a visual spectacle for skywatchers and astrophotographers. Because the eclipse unfolds over several hours, observers can use equipment ranging from smartphones to 400 mm-plus telephoto lenses or small telescopes. Photographers should use sturdy tripods, shoot in RAW, and lengthen exposures from roughly 1/125 s at the start to 1/8 s near maximum, adjusting ISO and aperture as the Moon dims.
Official Statements & Responses – NASA and Astronaut Commentary
NASA explains that the same atmospheric scattering that reddens sunsets is responsible for the eclipse’s coppery glow.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps – “Blood Moon” Terminology
Some sources call the eclipse a “blood moon,” a term usually reserved for total lunar eclipses. While the deep partial eclipse will display a similar reddish hue, the technical classification remains partial because a thin crescent stays outside Earth’s umbra. This terminology discrepancy does not affect the observable characteristics of the event.
