Blood Moon 2026: Will the Moon Turn Red During the August 28 Lunar Eclipse?

The Moon is set for a dramatic celestial display overnight Aug. 27-28, 2026, when a deep partial lunar eclipse will push about 96.2% of its apparent disk into Earth’s darkest shadow. The eclipse will reach maximum at about 12:12 a.m. EDT on Aug. 28, with the eclipsed portion potentially taking on copper, orange or reddish tones.

Although the event will fall just short of totality, its 96.2% umbral coverage makes it an unusually deep partial eclipse. A small portion of the Moon will remain outside Earth’s umbra, so astronomers will not classify it as a total lunar eclipse or a true “Blood Moon.”

For skywatchers, the unusual part is not just the color, but how close the eclipse comes to totality.

Why the moon looks red

A lunar eclipse happens when Earth moves between the Sun and Moon and the three bodies line up closely enough for the Moon to pass through Earth’s shadow. Because the Moon is full during this alignment, lunar eclipses occur only at full Moon.

The Aug. 27-28 event will be a partial lunar eclipse, meaning Earth will not completely cover the Moon with its darkest shadow. At maximum eclipse, about 96.2% of the Moon will be inside the umbra, leaving only a thin portion directly illuminated by sunlight.

That does not mean the covered section will simply disappear into darkness. Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is scattered before reaching the Moon. Blue light is scattered more strongly, while more red and orange light can travel through the atmosphere and reach the lunar surface.

It is the same basic effect that makes sunsets appear red. During an eclipse, the filtered light can give the Moon a copper, orange or reddish appearance.

When the 2026 blood moon will peak

The eclipse begins during the night of Aug. 27 and continues into Aug. 28. The most dramatic stage begins around 10:33 p.m. EDT, while maximum eclipse is expected at approximately 12:12 a.m. EDT on Aug. 28.

The partial phase will last for several hours, giving observers a substantial window to watch Earth’s shadow move across the lunar surface.

The eclipse will be visible across much of North America, including the United States and Canada, as well as parts of South America, Europe and Africa. Conditions will depend on local weather and whether the Moon is above the horizon at the relevant stage.

Why it is called a blood moon even though it is not total

The term “Blood Moon” is most commonly associated with a total lunar eclipse, when the entire Moon enters Earth’s umbral shadow.

That will not happen on Aug. 28. A small portion of the Moon will remain outside the darkest part of Earth’s shadow.

But because approximately 96% of the lunar disk will be immersed in the umbra, the difference may be difficult to notice without carefully looking for the remaining bright section. The overwhelming majority of the Moon could appear reddish while a narrow edge remains much brighter.

That makes this eclipse visually close to a total lunar eclipse even though astronomers classify it as a deep partial eclipse.

The precise color cannot be guaranteed in advance because Earth’s atmosphere affects the light reaching the Moon. Dust, aerosols, and other atmospheric conditions can change how bright or dark the eclipsed Moon appears.

The Sturgeon Moon will be part of the show

The eclipse coincides with August’s full Moon, traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon.

The name comes from sturgeon that were historically abundant in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain during late summer. This year, the full Moon will have an unusual backdrop because it will spend part of the night moving through Earth’s shadow.

For observers in the United States and Canada, the Moon will rise in the eastern sky on Aug. 27 and travel relatively low across the southern sky before setting during the early hours of Aug. 28.

The exact viewing experience will depend on location. People farther west in North America may need a clear eastern horizon to see the earlier stages, while those farther east will have the Moon higher in the sky during the peak.

You do not need eclipse glasses

Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is safe to watch with the naked eye. There is no need for special eye protection.

Binoculars or a small telescope can make the event more interesting by revealing the Moon’s craters and the curved edge of Earth’s shadow as it moves across the lunar surface.

A location away from bright city lights can also provide a better view of the changing color and the remaining illuminated portion of the Moon.

The key moment for North American viewers will come late on Aug. 27 or just after midnight on Aug. 28, depending on their time zone. When the eclipse reaches maximum, the Moon should appear overwhelmingly copper-red, even though astronomers will still classify the event as a partial eclipse.

A rare near-miss before the next chapter

The Aug. 28 eclipse also has a longer astronomical story behind it. It is the fourth and final eclipse in an unusual 2025-2026 sequence that included three total lunar eclipses followed by this exceptionally deep partial eclipse.

The event is part of Saros 138, an eclipse cycle in which similar eclipse geometries repeat roughly every 18 years. The August 2026 eclipse is described in the supplied sources as the deepest partial eclipse produced by this particular series.

The next eclipse in the same Saros series, in 2044, is expected to become a total lunar eclipse.

That gives the Aug. 28 event an unusual distinction: it is a near-miss for totality, but it is also the point where this particular eclipse series reaches its deepest partial stage before eventually producing a total eclipse.

For anyone watching from North America, the practical takeaway is simple: look up late on Aug. 27 or shortly after midnight on Aug. 28. If skies are clear, the Moon should spend part of the night looking dramatically different from its normal full-Moon appearance, with almost its entire surface immersed in Earth’s shadow and glowing with a reddish hue.