Tonight’s the night! Don’t miss the deep partial lunar eclipse
The wait is almost over! Tonight, Aug. 27-28, a spectacular deep partial lunar eclipse will sweep across the full Sturgeon Moon, with up to 96.2% of the lunar surface slipping deep into Earth’s dark umbral shadow at maximum eclipse.
The eclipse will be visible from large parts of North and South America, Europe and Africa, but exactly what you’ll see will depend on your location (and weather!)
Read more: An impressive partial lunar eclipse will turn the moon an eerie red for millions of people tonight
How many people will see August’s partial lunar eclipse?
A partial lunar eclipse is one of the most accessible skywatching events that the solar system has to offer. Everyone on the night side of Earth at the time of the eclipse will get to see our planet’s shadow encroach on the lunar disk overnight on Aug. 27-28.
North America and South America have the best seats in the house, with up to 987 million people positioned to witness the entirety of the partial stage of the eclipse, according to TimeandDate.com. Meanwhile, a staggering 3.34 billion people will get a chance to see some part of the partial phase of the lunar eclipse as it unfolds in the skies over the Americas, Europe and Africa.
Read more: Partial lunar eclipse August 2026: Where will it be visible from?
Anthony Wood
Why is the full moon during the lunar eclipse called the “Sturgeon Moon”?
Every full moon comes with its own set of traditional names inspired by events that occur around the time of their rising.
August’s full moon is often called the “Sturgeon Moon”, because sturgeon in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were historically most readily caught at this time of year and were an important food source for Native American peoples living in the region, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
It’s also been called the “Corn Moon” (Algonquin, Ojibwe), the “Harvest Moon” (Dakota) and the “Mountain Shadows Moon” (Tlingit). Let us know your preferred name for the August full moon in the comments below!
Read More: August Full Moon 2026: When, where and how to see the Sturgeon Moon.
Anthony Wood
Can’t see the lunar eclipse from where you are? Watch it live online
Cloudy skies threatening to spoil your view of the Aug. 27-28 partial lunar eclipse? Or perhaps the eclipse isn’t visible from your location? Don’t worry, you can still watch all the action unfold live online.
Several eclipse livestreams will give you a front-row seat as the moon turns an eerie red as 96.2% of the lunar surface becomes immersed in shadow at maximum eclipse.
Check out our lunar eclipse livestream guide for all the best free broadcasts on eclipse day.
Daisy is an avid eclipse chaser with a deep appreciation for lunar eclipses. One of her most memorable was the total lunar eclipse of Sept. 7, 2025, which she watched from Barcelona.
Why do eclipses come in pairs?
Solar and lunar eclipses tend to occur in close proximity to one another when the moon reaches an ascending or descending “node” in its orbit of Earth. These invisible points in space exist where the moon’s tilted orbit crosses the the flat plane on which our planet orbits the sun, which is known as the ecliptic.
When this happens, we experience an “eclipse season”, where there is a solar eclipse during the new moon and a lunar eclipse during a neighboring full moon phase, as the Earth and moon are lined up to pass between one another and the sun. An eclipse season can also occur in the opposite order, with a lunar eclipse preceding a solar eclipse.
Read more: Why solar and lunar eclipses come in pairs — and what an eclipse season really is.
Anthony Wood
Want to photograph the lunar eclipse? Here are our top photography tips
Planning to watch the deep partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28? Why not try capturing it on camera too? Photographing a lunar eclipse is considerably easier than photographing a solar eclipse — you don’t need any special filters to safely photograph the moon. But getting a sharp, well-exposed shot as the moon darkens and takes on a reddish hue can still be tricky, particularly as light levels change throughout the eclipse.
A little preparation can go a long way. Our guide to photographing a lunar eclipse covers everything you need to know, from choosing the right equipment and camera settings to focusing on the moon and getting creative with composition.
Daisy is an avid eclipse chaser with a deep appreciation for lunar eclipses. One of her most memorable was the total lunar eclipse of Sept. 7, 2025, which she watched from Barcelona.
What time is the partial lunar eclipse?
Planning to watch the deep partial lunar eclipse this week? You’ll want to make sure you’re looking up at the right time.
The eclipse begins at 9:23 p.m. EDT on Aug. 27 (0123 GMT on Aug. 28), when the moon enters Earth’s faint outer shadow, known as the penumbra. From then, the eclipse will deepen and become more visible over several hours as the moon passes into Earth’s darker umbral shadow, ultimately leaving 96.2% of the lunar surface covered at its peak.
For key timings and when exactly to look up, check out our guide on when the partial lunar eclipse will occur.
Daisy is an avid eclipse chaser with a deep appreciation for lunar eclipses. One of her most memorable was the total lunar eclipse of Sept. 7, 2025, which she watched from Barcelona.
What will happen during each stage of the partial lunar eclipse?
A partial lunar eclipse has five distinct phases that occur simultaneously for everyone on the night side of Earth as our planet slips between the sun and its natural satellite during the full moon phase.
The eclipse begins as Earth’s outer penumbral shadow subtly darkens the moon, after which the inner umbral shadow reveals our planet’s curved silhouette as it advances across the lunar disk.
Read more: What to expect from each stage of the partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28
Anthony Wood
3 days to go! Here’s everything you need to know
The deep partial lunar eclipse is just a few days away, so now is the perfect time to start planning how you’re going to view the “almost blood moon”.
At maximum eclipse, 96.2% of the moon’s surface will be covered by Earth’s dark central shadow known as the umbra. While the moon won’t be completely eclipsed — so this isn’t technically a “blood moon” — much of the lunar surface is expected to take on a reddish-orange hue, with just a thin sliver remaining brightly illuminated.
Check out our complete guide to the Aug. 27-28 partial lunar eclipse to make sure you’re ready for the “almost blood moon”.
Daisy is an avid eclipse chaser with a deep appreciation for lunar eclipses. One of her most memorable was the total lunar eclipse of Sept. 7, 2025, which she watched from Barcelona.
How to view a partial lunar eclipse
One of the wonderful things about a lunar eclipse is that it can be witnessed by everyone who happens to be on the night side of Earth as it occurs, weather permitting.
You don’t need any special equipment like eclipse glasses to enjoy the show. Simply step outside and look up to see Earth’s curved inner shadow crawl across the moon in a spectacular display of orbital mechanics.
Want a closer look? No problem! It’s completely safe to point a pair of binoculars or a telescope at the moon during a lunar eclipse. Doing so will give you a magnified view of the colossal craters and dark lunar seas that mark the moon’s near side as they fall within the umbral shadow.
Anthony Wood
Where will the Aug. 27-28 partial lunar eclipse be visible?
The good news is that unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse can be seen from anywhere the moon is above the horizon. That means millions of skywatchers worldwide will have a chance to witness at least part of the Aug. 27-28 eclipse, weather permitting.
The best views will be from North and South America, where the entire eclipse will be visible. Across Europe and Africa, the eclipse takes place before dawn on Aug. 28, with the moon setting during the latter stages of the event.
Read more: Partial lunar eclipse August 2026: Where will it be visible from?
Daisy is an avid eclipse chaser with a deep appreciation for lunar eclipses. One of her most memorable was the total lunar eclipse of Sept. 7, 2025, which she watched from Barcelona.
Why this partial lunar eclipse is one you won’t want to miss
When most people hear the words “partial lunar eclipse,” they might often assume it will be less impressive than a total eclipse, and not really worth the effort to try and see it. But the Aug. 27-28 eclipse is anything but ordinary.
At maximum eclipse, 96.2% of the moon will be immersed in Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of our planet’s shadow. That means only a thin sliver of the lunar surface will remain directly illuminated by the sun, while the rest of the moon will take on a deep reddish-orange hue.
If you miss this one, you’ll have to wait until Dec. 31, 2028 for another lunar eclipse that rivals it in spectacle. So whether you’re planning on staying up late in the US or setting your alarms early in Europe, this is one skywatching show that’s well worth making time for!
Daisy is an avid eclipse chaser with a deep appreciation for lunar eclipses. One of her most memorable was the total lunar eclipse of Sept. 7, 2025, which she watched from Barcelona.
1 week to go until the deepest partial lunar eclipse until 2028
We’re officially one week away from one of the best skywatching events of the year!
On the evening of Aug. 27 (for North America), or the early hours of Aug. 28 (for western Europe), Earth’s shadow will creep across the full moon during a very deep partial lunar eclipse. At maximum eclipse, 96.2% of the moon will be immersed in Earth’s dark central shadow.
The eclipse will be visible, at least in some part, from North and South America, Europe, Africa and parts of western Asia, weather permitting. Observers in the Americas are well-positioned for the best views while skywatchers across Europe will need to look toward the western horizon before sunrise as the eclipse reaches its peak.
Read more: A 96% partial lunar eclipse is just 1 week away: Here’s what you need to know.
Daisy is an avid eclipse chaser with a deep appreciation for lunar eclipses. One of her most memorable was the total lunar eclipse of Sept. 7, 2025, which she watched from Barcelona.
