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Skywatchers around the world are gearing up for what’s being billed as the most striking lunar eclipse in years, a deep partial eclipse falling on the night of August 27 into August 28, 2026. With close to 96 percent of the Moon set to slip into Earth’s shadow, plenty of people are asking whether this really counts as a Blood Moon, and who actually gets a chance to see it.
When Does The Eclipse Peak?
The eclipse stretches across roughly 5 hours and 38 minutes in total, kicking off at 1:23 UTC and closing out at 7:01 UTC on August 28. The part you’ll actually be able to see, the partial phase, starts at 2:33 UTC, hits its peak at 4:12 UTC, and tapers off by around 5:52 UTC. That peak is the moment the Moon sinks deepest into Earth’s shadow, looking almost completely blacked out.
Is It Actually A Blood Moon?
Not quite, technically. Since a thin, bright edge of the Moon stays just outside Earth’s darkest shadow, this doesn’t qualify as a full Blood Moon. That said, just over 96 percent of the Moon will still pass into Earth’s shadow, making it the deepest partial lunar eclipse anywhere in the world since September 2024. In fact, it’s the final eclipse of 2026, following an annular solar eclipse in February, a total lunar eclipse in March and a total solar eclipse in August. Expect the Moon to take on a reddish or copper tint without going fully dark.
Where It Will Be Visible?
The eclipse will be visible from Europe, Africa, North America and South America. The United States gets some of the strongest viewing conditions, with the Moon staying above the horizon through the entire event across much of the central and eastern US, though western regions may miss the earliest stages since the Moon rises later there. In the UK, the partial eclipse will be visible on the evening of August 27 or the morning of August 28, depending on location.
Not Visible From India
India misses out on this one entirely. The eclipse window sits smack in the middle of daylight hours here, roughly 6:53 am to 12:31 pm IST, so the Moon stays below the horizon the whole time, meaning skywatchers in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru won’t catch even a glimpse of it. What makes the timing interesting is that this year’s eclipse falls on the same day as Raksha Bandhan, which India celebrates on Friday, August 28.
Do You Need Eye Protection
Unlike a solar eclipse, this one doesn’t call for any special eye protection, looking at an eclipsed Moon isn’t remotely as risky as staring directly at the Sun. That said, if you’ve got binoculars or a telescope handy, they’ll get you a much closer look at Earth’s shadow slowly creeping across the Moon’s surface.
Khushi Patel is a Senior Sub Editor at NewsX, covering automotive, technology, Lifestyle, entertainment, and mainstream news. She previously worked as a Copy Editor at Times Network and has written automotive editorial content, including comparison pieces, for TimesDrive.
