Full Breakdown
Near-Total Lunar Eclipse — August 27-28 2026
8/27/2026, 8:03:48 AM
Core Event
A deep partial (“near-total”) lunar eclipse will occur overnight on August 27-28 2026. At maximum, about 96 % of the Moon’s disk will be in Earth’s umbral shadow, giving it a copper-red hue. The eclipse begins with the penumbral phase, proceeds to the partial phase, reaches peak coverage shortly after midnight, and ends in the early-morning hours.
Background & Context
Lunar eclipses follow a total solar eclipse when the Moon is on the opposite side of Earth. Two weeks earlier, on August 12 2026, a total solar eclipse crossed Spain, Greenland, Iceland and northern Russia. This pairing reflects the regular Sun-Earth-Moon geometry.
Data & Statistics
| Parameter | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Penumbral start | 9:24 p.m. EDT Aug 27 | wxii12 |
| Partial start | 10:34 p.m. EDT Aug 27 | wxii12 |
| 50 % coverage | 11:15 p.m. EDT Aug 27 | wxii12 |
| Maximum coverage | 96 % (?96.2 % in some reports) at 12:13 a.m. EDT Aug 28 | NASA (via NBC, KCRA, latimes) |
| Partial end | 1:52 a.m. EDT Aug 28 | wxii12 |
| Penumbral end | 3:02 a.m. EDT Aug 28 | wxii12 |
| Visibility – U.S. | All contiguous states see the full sequence; Alaska and far-north Canada see portions | NBC, KCRA |
| Visibility – Europe/Africa | Moon sets during the eclipse on the morning of Aug 28 | NBC, Weather.com |
| Visibility – Asia/Oceania | Moon rises during the eclipse on the evening of Aug 27 | NBC, Weather.com |
| Estimated audience | ?1 billion in the Americas; ?3 billion worldwide | latimes |
Official Statements & Responses
Meteorologist Jonathan Erdman (weather.com) noted a heat dome over the Southwest may produce clear skies, while scattered thunderstorms could affect the Northeast, South and Midwest.
On-the-Ground Reports
Regional forecasts indicate:
- Northeast: Scattered showers and thunderstorms; brief clear intervals may permit viewing.
- South: Possible storms from Virginia to Florida; clearer skies expected in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas.
- Midwest: Generally favorable; isolated thunderstorms possible over Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri.
- West: Mostly clear, especially in the Northwest and Four Corners region.
Local meteorologists in Oklahoma (Joseph Neubauer, KOCO) and Omaha (KETV) project mostly clear conditions for the peak hour.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on exact coverage and timing:
- Coverage: NBC and KCRA cite 96 %; latimes reports 96.2 %; TimeandDate.com notes 96.2 % and a UK-focused estimate of 93 % for the British Isles.
- Start times: Penumbral onset listed as 9:23 p.m. ET (NBC), 9:24 p.m. EDT, and 8:23 p.m. CT.
- Peak time: Reported as 12:12 a.m. EDT (NBC, Weather.com) and 12:13 a.m. EDT.
These discrepancies stem from time-zone conversions and rounding of observational data.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is the opposite of what happens during a solar eclipse,” — Meteorologist Joseph
- “Partial lunar eclipses happen fairly often, but this one is special — it's about as close to total as you can get without crossing the line,” — Dr. Wes Ryle, Cincinnati Observatory
What’s Next
- Next total lunar eclipse visible in the United States: June 2029.
- Next total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States: August 2045 (California to Florida).
- Upcoming solar eclipse: March 30 2033 (visible only in Alaska).
