What happens on 27 to 28 August 2026?
The Moon passes deep into Earth's dark umbral shadow, but not quite far enough for totality. At maximum, the umbral magnitude is 0.9299, so most of the lunar diameter is inside the umbra while a bright edge remains outside it.
The event is completely safe to watch with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. Solar eclipse glasses are not needed for any lunar eclipse phase.
Partial lunar eclipse timetable in UTC
These are geocentric phase times rounded to the nearest minute from the NASA GSFC 2026 eclipse catalog. The visible portion of the event depends on local moonrise, moonset and weather.
| Phase | UTC time | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Penumbral eclipse begins | 01:24 | Very subtle shading; usually hard to detect |
| Partial eclipse begins | 02:34 | Earth's dark umbra reaches the Moon |
| Greatest eclipse | 04:13 | About 93% of the lunar diameter is in umbra |
| Partial eclipse ends | 05:52 | The last dark umbral shadow leaves |
| Penumbral eclipse ends | 07:02 | The faint outer shadow leaves |
Local times in Europe and North America
In western and central Europe the Moon is low in the west as dawn approaches, and it may set before the partial phase finishes. Find an open western horizon and check the local moonset time. Across much of the Americas, the main partial phase is visible during the evening or around midnight.
| Time zone | Partial begins | Maximum | Partial ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Europe, CEST | 04:34 | 06:13 | 07:52 |
| UK and Ireland, BST | 03:34 | 05:13 | 06:52 |
| US Eastern, EDT | 22:34 on 27 Aug | 00:13 on 28 Aug | 01:52 |
| US Central, CDT | 21:34 on 27 Aug | 23:13 on 27 Aug | 00:52 on 28 Aug |
| US Mountain, MDT | 20:34 on 27 Aug | 22:13 on 27 Aug | 23:52 on 27 Aug |
| US Pacific, PDT | 19:34 on 27 Aug | 21:13 on 27 Aug | 22:52 on 27 Aug |
Where is the eclipse visible?
Some or all of the eclipse is visible from the Americas, Europe, Africa and the eastern Pacific. Visibility is best where the Moon remains above the horizon throughout the partial phase.
A global visibility region does not guarantee a complete local view. Buildings, hills, cloud and twilight can hide a low Moon, particularly near moonset in Europe or moonrise in parts of the Pacific region.
How to watch and photograph it
- Go outside before the partial phase begins so your eyes can settle and you can locate the Moon.
- Choose a place with a clear horizon in the direction of the Moon, especially in Europe near dawn.
- Use binoculars to follow the curved edge of Earth's umbra across lunar craters.
- For photographs, use a tripod, manual focus and exposure bracketing as the Moon darkens.
- Check cloud cover shortly before leaving; historical climate data is not a forecast.
Why is it not a total lunar eclipse?
The alignment is close but imperfect. The Moon crosses the edge of Earth's umbra, so a small part of the lunar disc remains outside the darkest shadow even at maximum.
This is still a visually strong partial eclipse. NASA's catalog gives an umbral duration of 3 hours 18 minutes, providing a long window to see Earth's curved shadow move across the Moon.
Sources and methodology
Dates, paths and safety guidance use the references below. Local timings are rounded calculations for the stated reference points; recalculate your exact observing location.
- NASA GSFC: Eclipses During 2026 ↗Official UTC phase times, greatest eclipse, magnitude, Saros series and global visibility.
- NASA Science: Eclipses and the Moon ↗Lunar eclipse geometry, partial-eclipse explanation, visibility region and safe observation.
- NASA GSFC: 28 August 2026 Eclipse Plot ↗Contact times, umbral duration, shadow diagram and eclipse magnitude.