The total lunar eclipse of March 3, 2026, has passed. The next total lunar eclipse will occur on December 31, 2028. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
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.
Stages of the total lunar eclipse in December 2028 (including time)
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins (P1) (December 31, 14:03 UTC)
The penumbral lunar eclipse will begin on December 31, 2028, at 14:03 UTC, when the moon enters Earth’s penumbra—the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow.
The moon will appear slightly dimmer than usual. However, the effect will be so subtle that it may be difficult to notice.
Partial lunar eclipse begins (U1) (December 31, 15:07 UTC)
The partial lunar eclipse will begin on December 31, 2028, at 15:07 UTC, when the moon enters Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow.
The portion of the moon inside Earth’s umbra will appear very dark, as if a bite has been taken out of it.
Total lunar eclipse begins (U2) (December 31, 16:16 UTC)
The total lunar eclipse will begin on December 31, 2028, at 16:16 UTC, when the moon completely enters Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow.
The moon will turn from very dark to reddish-orange.
Moment of greatest eclipse (December 31, 16:52 UTC)
The moment of greatest eclipse will occur on December 31, 2028, at 16:52 UTC, when the moon is halfway through Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow.
The red color of the moon will be deepest across the lower portion, as it lies closest to the center of Earth’s umbra.
Total lunar eclipse ends (U3) (December 31, 17:28 UTC)
The total lunar eclipse will end on December 31, 2028, at 17:28 UTC, when the moon exits Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow.
The red color of the moon will gradually fade. The portion of the moon inside Earth’s umbra will appear very dark.
Partial lunar eclipse ends (U4) (December 31, 18:37 UTC)
The partial lunar eclipse will end on December 31, 2028, at 18:37 UTC, when the moon completely exits Earth’s umbra—the dark inner part of Earth’s shadow. The moon will then be completely inside Earth’s penumbra—the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow.
Again, the moon will appear slightly dimmer than usual.
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends (P4) (December 31, 19:40 UTC)
The penumbral lunar eclipse will end on December 31, 2028, at 19:40 UTC, when the moon completely exits Earth’s penumbra—the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow.
The moon will return to its normal state, and the eclipse will be over.
Visibility of the total lunar eclipse in December 2028
The total lunar eclipse on December 31, 2028–January 1, 2029, will be visible from the following geographic regions:
Entire eclipse: The entire eclipse—including the penumbral, partial, and total phases—will be visible from eastern Europe, Asia, the Indian Ocean, Australia, and the western Pacific.
Eclipse at moonrise: In western Europe and western Africa, the eclipse will be underway when the moon rises in the east around sunset on December 31, 2028. As a result, the early stages of the eclipse will not be visible from these regions.
Eclipse at moonset: In the eastern Pacific and northwestern North America, the eclipse will be underway when the moon sets in the west around sunrise on December 31, 2028. As a result, the later stages of the eclipse will not be visible from these regions.
No eclipse: The eclipse will not be visible from eastern North America and South America because the moon will be below the horizon.
How long will the total lunar eclipse in December 2028 last?
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. The partial phases will last about 1 hour and 9 minutes both before and after totality.
However, the entire eclipse—including the penumbral, partial, and total phases—will last about 5 hours and 37 minutes.
What is a 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.
Why does the moon appear red during a total lunar eclipse?
The moon appears red during a total lunar eclipse as Earth’s atmosphere scatters and refracts sunlight.
As sunlight passes through deep layers of Earth’s atmosphere, its small molecules scatter shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue, while longer wavelengths of light, like red, bend or refract into Earth’s umbra.
When the moon passes through Earth’s umbra during a total lunar eclipse, this red light falls on the moon, giving it a deep red appearance.
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