August lunar eclipse 2026: When to see the Blood Moon tonight
When is the partial lunar eclipse this week? How to see it
This August, sky-watchers in North America have a treat in store as the month has already seen a solar eclipse and the Perseids meteor shower. Now, a partial lunar eclipse is set to grace the skies. To catch this celestial event, stay tuned for details on timing and how to observe the phenomenon.
The partial lunar eclipse is scheduled to occur between August 27 and 28, 2026. It commences on the evening of August 27 and reaches its peak during the early hours of August 28. The exact timings may differ depending on your location; NASA predicts the eclipse to commence around 12:13 a.m. ET.
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth intervenes between the Sun and the Moon, casting Earth's shadow onto the Moon's surface. Such an event can only transpire during a full moon when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align precisely enough for the shadow of Earth to fall upon the Moon. In this case, a partial eclipse is at hand, meaning only a segment of the Moon will pass through Earth's shadow, rendering the shadowed portion noticeably darker against the illuminated portion of the Moon.
The exact appearance of the eclipse hinges on the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. In contrast, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align in a straight line, with Earth situated directly between the other two. The Moon continues to receive a minuscule amount of sunlight, but this light has to traverse through Earth's atmosphere first.
Earth's atmosphere scatters much of the blue light, permitting more red and orange light to reach the Moon, which often results in a reddish hue.
Written by urgent.news from Mashable's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
