Skywatchers across parts of the Americas, Europe and Africa witnessed a striking celestial display as the Moon turned a deep copper-red during a rare deep partial lunar eclipse on August 27–28, 2026.
At the peak of the eclipse, about 96.3 per cent of the Moon’s disk was covered by Earth’s darkest central shadow, known as the umbra, leaving only a small portion of the lunar surface illuminated by direct sunlight. NASA described the event as a deep partial lunar eclipse rather than a total eclipse.
The unusually high level of coverage made the eclipse appear almost total, with much of the Moon taking on the reddish or copper colour commonly associated with a “blood moon.” Timeanddate recorded the eclipse at 96.2 per cent obscuration.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Moon to move into Earth’s shadow.
The reddish colour occurs because sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is scattered and filtered before reaching the Moon. The atmosphere removes much of the shorter blue light while allowing more red and orange wavelengths to reach the lunar surface.
During this eclipse, the effect was particularly noticeable because almost the entire Moon entered the umbra, leaving only a narrow section exposed to direct sunlight. NASA said observers could perceive the coppery colour as the Moon moved deeper into Earth’s shadow.
The August eclipse was visible from large parts of North and South America, western Europe and western Africa.
In Lagos, Nigeria, the eclipse was classified as a partial lunar eclipse. Timeanddate recorded the event beginning with the penumbral phase at about 2:23 a.m. local time, with the partial phase beginning later and the maximum occurring at approximately 5:12 a.m.
However, viewing conditions varied by location, with the Moon setting before some of the later stages of the eclipse could be observed.
Despite its dramatic appearance, the event did not qualify as a total lunar eclipse because a small portion of the Moon remained outside Earth’s umbral shadow.
NASA calculated that 96.3 per cent of the lunar disk entered the umbra at greatest eclipse. Timeanddate similarly classified the event as a very deep partial lunar eclipse, with an obscuration of 96.2 per cent.
The distinction is significant because a total lunar eclipse requires the entire lunar disk to pass into Earth’s umbra.
The event nevertheless provided skywatchers with a spectacle resembling a total eclipse, as only a small bright section of the Moon remained outside the darkest part of Earth’s shadow.
Unlike many astronomical events, lunar eclipses can be predicted precisely because they occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon align in a particular configuration.
The August eclipse lasted several hours from the beginning of its penumbral phase to the end, although the period during which the Moon was actually inside the Earth’s umbra was considerably shorter. Timeanddate recorded the overall event at about five hours and 38 minutes, with the partial phase lasting about three hours and 18 minutes.
For observers who missed the spectacle, the event also served as a reminder that lunar eclipses can produce dramatic changes in the Moon’s appearance without posing any danger to viewers.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses can be safely viewed with the naked eye, provided the Moon is visible from the observer’s location.
