2026-08-21T10:05:26.656Z Why you won’t want to miss this partial lunar eclipse Craters and lunar seas 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
