What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of Earth and the moon passes through some portion of Earth’s shadow. This can only happen during a full moon in an eclipse season.
Types of lunar eclipses
Total lunar eclipse: A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of Earth, and the entire moon passes through Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow.
During totality, the moon appears deep red or orange. However, the exact appearance depends on how much dust and clouds are present in Earth’s atmosphere.
Partial lunar eclipse: A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of Earth, and a portion of the moon passes through Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow.
During a partial lunar eclipse, the portion of the moon inside Earth’s umbra appears very dark, as if a bite has been taken out of it.
Penumbral lunar eclipse: A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of Earth, and the moon passes through Earth’s penumbra—the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow.
During a penumbral lunar eclipse, the moon appears slightly dimmer than usual. However, the effect is subtle and difficult to observe.
August 27–28, 2026: Partial lunar eclipse
A portion of the moon will pass through Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow—on the night of August 27–28, 2026, creating a partial lunar eclipse. At greatest eclipse, 93% of the moon will be within Earth’s umbra.
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins (P1): August 28, 2026, at 01:23 UTC
Partial lunar eclipse begins (U1): August 28, 2026, at 02:33 UTC
Greatest eclipse: August 28, 2026, at 04:13 UTC
Partial lunar eclipse ends (U4): August 28, 2026, at 05:52 UTC
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends (P4): August 28, 2026, at 07:02 UTC
Visibility: The partial lunar eclipse will be visible from the eastern Pacific, North America, South America, the Atlantic, Europe, and Africa.
The eclipse will be visible in the evening from the eastern Pacific and western North America, at night from eastern North America and South America, and in the early morning from Europe and much of Africa.
February 20–21, 2027: Penumbral lunar eclipse
The moon will pass through Earth’s penumbra—the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow—on the night of February 20–21, 2027, creating a penumbral lunar eclipse. At greatest eclipse, 93% of the moon will be within Earth’s penumbra.
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins (P1): February 20, 2027, at 21:12 UTC
Greatest eclipse: February 20, 2027, at 23:13 UTC
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends (P4): February 21, 2027, at 01:13 UTC
Visibility: The penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible from eastern North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and western Australia.
The eclipse will be visible in the evening from eastern North America and South America, at night from Europe, Africa, and western Asia, and in the early morning from eastern Asia and western Australia.
July 18–19, 2027: Penumbral lunar eclipse
The moon will pass through Earth’s penumbra—the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow—on the night of July 18–19, 2027, creating a penumbral lunar eclipse. At greatest eclipse, only 0.3% of the moon will be within Earth’s penumbra.
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins (P1): July 18, 2027, at 15:54 UTC
Greatest eclipse: July 18, 2027, at 16:03 UTC
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends (P4): July 18, 2027, at 16:12 UTC
Visibility: The penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible from eastern Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean, Australia, and the western Pacific.
August 16–17, 2027: Penumbral lunar eclipse
The moon will pass through Earth’s penumbra—the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow—on the night of August 16–17, 2027, creating a penumbral lunar eclipse. At greatest eclipse, 55% of the moon will be within Earth’s penumbra.
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins (P1): August 17, 2027, at 05:24 UTC
Greatest eclipse: August 17, 2027, at 07:14 UTC
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends (P4): August 17, 2027, at 09:03 UTC
Visibility: The penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible from eastern Australia, the Pacific, North America, South America, the Atlantic, and western Africa.
The eclipse will be visible in the evening from eastern Australia, at night from North America and South America, and in the early morning from western Africa.
January 11–12, 2028: Partial lunar eclipse
A portion of the moon will pass through Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow—on the night of January 11–12, 2028, creating a partial lunar eclipse. At greatest eclipse, only 7% of the moon will be within Earth’s umbra.
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins (P1): January 12, 2028, at 02:07 UTC
Partial lunar eclipse begins (U1): January 12, 2028, at 03:45 UTC
Greatest eclipse: January 12, 2028, at 04:13 UTC
Partial lunar eclipse ends (U4): January 12, 2028, at 04:42 UTC
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends (P4): January 12, 2028, at 06:19 UTC
Visibility: The partial lunar eclipse will be visible from the eastern Pacific, North America, South America, the Atlantic, Europe, Africa, and western Asia.
The eclipse will be visible in the evening from the eastern Pacific, at night from North America, South America, Europe, and western Africa, and in the early morning from eastern Africa and western Asia.
July 6–7, 2028: Partial solar eclipse
A portion of the moon will pass through Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow—on the night of July 6–7, 2028, creating a partial lunar eclipse. At greatest eclipse, 39% of the moon will be within Earth’s umbra.
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins (P1): July 6, 2028, at 15:44 UTC
Partial lunar eclipse begins (U1): July 6, 2028, at 17:09 UTC
Greatest eclipse: July 6, 2028, at 18:20 UTC
Partial lunar eclipse ends (U4): July 6, 2028, at 19:31 UTC
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends (P4): July 6, 2028, at 20:55 UTC
Visibility: The partial lunar eclipse will be visible from Africa, much of Europe, Asia, the Indian Ocean, Australia, and the western Pacific.
The eclipse will be visible in the evening from western Africa and much of Europe, at night from Asia and Australia, and in the early morning from New Zealand.
December 31, 2028–January 1, 2029: Total lunar eclipse
The entire moon will pass through Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow—on the night of December 31, 2028–January 1, 2029, creating a total lunar eclipse.
Totality—the period between the start and end of the total phase (U2–U3)—will last about 1 hour and 12 minutes, during which the moon will appear deep red in the sky.
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins (P1): December 31, 2028, at 14:03 UTC
Partial lunar eclipse begins (U1): December 31, 2028, at 15:07 UTC
Total lunar eclipse begins (U2): December 31, 2028, at 16:16 UTC
Greatest eclipse: December 31, 2028, at 16:52 UTC
Total lunar eclipse ends (U3): December 31, 2028, at 17:28 UTC
Partial lunar eclipse ends (U4): December 31, 2028, at 18:37 UTC
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends (P4): December 31, 2028, at 19:40 UTC
Visibility: The total lunar eclipse will be visible from Africa, Europe, Asia, the Indian Ocean, Australia, the Pacific, and northwestern North America.
The eclipse will be visible in the evening from Africa and Europe, at night from Asia and Australia, and in the early morning from northwestern North America.
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