You can see a blood moon lunar eclipse in August. Here's when, how to see it at maximum

A nearly complete "Blood Moon" lunar eclipse will illuminate the night sky on August 27-28, 2026, according to astronomical observations. The celestial event will see nearly 96% of the full Moon slip into Earth's shadow, with only a sliver remaining illuminated.

The eclipse will commence on the evening of Thursday, August 27, and continue into the early hours of Friday, August 28. In the United States, the penumbral phase will begin at 9:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time, leading to the partial eclipse at 10:33 PM. Maximum totality is expected at approximately 12:12 AM on August 28, when about 96.2% of the Moon will be within Earth's umbra.

The partial phase will conclude at around 1:51 AM EDT, and the eclipse will end with the final penumbral phase at around 3:01 AM, lasting approximately five hours and 38 minutes.

North America, particularly the United States, is anticipated to provide optimal viewing conditions for the event, weather permitting. However, the visibility of the eclipse will depend on local moonrise and moonset times, as well as cloud cover in different regions. Unlike a solar eclipse, no special glasses are needed to witness the lunar eclipse, which can be observed safely with the naked eye.

Binoculars or a telescope can enhance the viewing experience by revealing the changing colors and the boundary of Earth's shadow across the lunar surface.