Catching An 'Almost Total' Lunar Eclipse on August 28th

A deep, nearly total partial lunar eclipse will occur on August 28th, marking the last of four eclipses in 2026. The event is the final in the second eclipse season for the year, following a total solar eclipse on August 12th. The Moon will pass through Earth's umbral shadow, but not fully immersed in totality. The eclipse will last just under 5 hours and 38 minutes, starting at 1:23 Universal Time (UT) on August 28th, 9:23 PM EDT. The partial phases will begin just before 2:34 UT/10:34 PM EDT and last over 3 hours and 18 minutes. The maximum partial eclipse occurs at 4:14 UT/12:14 AM EDT, with the Moon 93% immersed in the Earth’s umbral shadow. The eclipse will be visible from the Americas, with Europe and Africa seeing it finish at moonset early on August 28th, while central Pacific regions will see it begin at moonrise on the evening of August 27th. The eclipse is part of a tetrad of four total lunar eclipses in a two-year span, with the last ones occurring in March 2023 and March 2024. It is also the final partial eclipse for lunar saros series 138, which began in 1521 and will end in 2982. The event is notable for its rarity and the unique perspective it offers from space.

• The eclipse will be visible from the Americas, with Europe and Africa seeing it finish at moonset early on August 28th, while central Pacific regions will see it begin at moonrise on the evening of August 27th.
• The eclipse will last just under 5 hours and 38 minutes, starting at 1:23 UT on August 28th, 9:23 PM EDT.
• The maximum partial eclipse occurs at 4:14 UT/12:14 AM EDT, with the Moon 93% immersed in the Earth’s umbral shadow.

This eclipse is the final in the second eclipse season for 2026 and marks the end of a tetrad of four total lunar eclipses in a two-year span. It is also the final partial eclipse for lunar saros series 138, which began in 1521 and will end in 2982. The event is notable for its rarity and the unique perspective it offers from space. The eclipse will be live on the Virtual Telescope Project starting at 1:30 UT on the 28th, and it is a fine coda to the end of a memorable eclipse season.

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