2026-08-25T12:58:43.469Z Do you want to photograph the lunar eclipse? Here are our top photography tips (Image credit: Josh Dury Photo Media) Planning to watch the deep partial lunar eclipse on August 27-28? Why not try to capture it on camera too? Photographing a lunar eclipse is considerably easier than photographing a solar eclipse: you don’t need any special filters to photograph the moon safely. But getting a sharp, well-exposed photo when the moon dims and turns reddish can still be tricky, especially 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 Dobrijevic Social Links Navigation Skywatching Editor 2026-08-25T07:40:29.736Z What time is the partial lunar eclipse? (Image credit: Created in Canva Pro by Daisy Dobrijevic) Are you planning to see 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 pm EDT on August 27 (0123 GMT on August 28), when the Moon enters Earth’s faint outer shadow, known as the penumbra. Thereafter, the eclipse will deepen and become more visible for several hours as the Moon passes into Earth’s darkest threshold shadow, eventually leaving 96.2% of the lunar surface covered at its peak. For key times and when exactly to look, check out our guide to when the partial lunar eclipse will occur. Daisy Dobrijevic Social Links Navigation Skywatching Editor 2026-08-24T12:45:01.991Z What will happen during each stage of the partial lunar eclipse? A partial lunar eclipse turns the moon red in the sky of Sri Lanka. (Image credit: Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images) A partial lunar eclipse has five distinct phases that occur simultaneously for everyone on the night side of the Earth as our planet slides between the sun and its natural satellite during the full moon phase. The eclipse begins when Earth’s outer penumbral shadow subtly obscures the moon, after which the inner threshold shadow reveals the curved silhouette of our planet as it moves across the lunar disk. Read more: What to expect from each stage of the partial lunar eclipse on August 27-28 Anthony Wood Skywatching Writer 2026-08-24T07:35:40.714Z 3 days left! Here’s everything you need to know 3 days before the partial lunar eclipse, here’s everything you need to know. (Image credit: Eclipse inset: Giovanni Bortolani via Getty Images. Royalty-free. Graphic created in Canva Pro.) The deep partial lunar eclipse is just a few days away, so now is the perfect time to start planning how you’ll view the “near blood moon.” At the 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 will not be completely eclipsed (so it is not technically a “blood moon”), much of the lunar surface is expected to take on a reddish-orange hue, leaving only a thin strip brightly illuminated. Check out our complete guide to the partial lunar eclipse on August 27-28 to make sure you’re ready for the “near blood moon.” Daisy Dobrijevic Social Links Navigation Skywatching Editor 2026-08-23T11:07:04.809Z How to view a partial lunar eclipse A lunar eclipse captured over the UK in 2007. (Image credit: Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) One of the wonderful things about a lunar eclipse is that it can be witnessed by anyone on the night side of the 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 crawling across the moon in a spectacular display of orbital mechanics. Do you want to see it closer? No problem! It is completely safe to point a pair of binoculars or a telescope at the moon during a lunar eclipse. Doing so will give you a zoomed-in view of the colossal craters and dark lunar seas that mark the near side of the moon as they fall within the threshold shadow. Anthony Wood Skywatching Writer 2026-08-22T10:05:12.444Z Where will the partial lunar eclipse be visible on August 27-28? The partial phase of a lunar eclipse captured over Canada in 2025. (Image credit: Photo by Chen Shaojin/VCG via Getty Images) 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 around the world will have the opportunity to witness at least part of the eclipse on August 27-28, weather permitting. The best views will be from North and South America, where the entire eclipse will be visible. In Europe and Africa, the eclipse takes place before dawn on August 28, with the moon setting during the latter stages of the event. Read more: August 2026 partial lunar eclipse: where will it be visible from? Daisy Dobrijevic Social Links Navigation Skywatching Editor 2026-08-21T10:05:26.656Z Why you won’t want to miss this partial lunar eclipse Craters and lunar marshes mark the lunar surface during a deep lunar eclipse. (Image credit: Orchidpoet via Getty Images) When most people hear the words “partial lunar eclipse,” they may often assume that it will be less impressive than a total eclipse and that it really isn’t worth the effort of trying to see it. But the eclipse on August 27-28 is anything but ordinary. At the maximum eclipse, 96.2% of the Moon will be submerged in the Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of our planet’s shadow. That means that only a thin portion of the lunar surface will remain illuminated directly by the sun, while the rest of the moon will take on a deep reddish-orange hue. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait until December 31, 2028 to see another lunar eclipse that rivals it for spectacle. So whether you’re planning to stay up late in the US or set your alarms early in Europe, this is a skywatching spectacle worth your time! Daisy Dobrijevic Social Links Navigation Skywatching Editor Deepest partial lunar eclipse 1 week away until 2028 The partial phase of a lunar eclipse captured over Sydney in September 2025. (Image credit: Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP via Getty Images) We’re officially one week away from one of the best skywatching events of the year! On the evening of August 27 (for North America), or the early hours of August 28 (for Western Europe), Earth’s shadow will creep across the full moon during a very deep partial lunar eclipse. At the maximum eclipse, 96.2% of the Moon will be immersed in the dark central shadow of the Earth. The eclipse will be visible, at least in part, from North and South America, Europe, Africa and parts of Western Asia, weather permitting. Observers in the Americas are well positioned to get the best views, while skywatchers across Europe will need to look toward the western horizon before dawn when the eclipse peaks. Read more: A 96% partial lunar eclipse is just 1 week away – here’s what you need to know. Daisy Dobrijevic Social Links Navigation Skywatching Editor
