On August 27-28, 2026, the Moon will pass through Earth's shadow in a deep partial lunar eclipse that reaches 96% totality, earning it the informal designation of a "blood moon" for the reddish hue lunar eclipses produce. North America will have the best viewing conditions for this event, making it the most accessible lunar eclipse for observers on the continent until the total lunar eclipse occurs on New Year's Eve 2028.
A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon enters Earth's umbra, the darkest part of our planet's shadow, but does not fully pass through it. At 96% coverage, this eclipse approaches but does not quite achieve totality. The copper-red coloration visible during lunar eclipses results from Rayleigh scattering, the same atmospheric phenomenon that produces red sunsets. Sunlight bends through Earth's atmosphere and refracts onto the Moon's surface, with shorter blue wavelengths scattered away and longer red wavelengths reaching the lunar surface.
The 2026 eclipse holds particular interest for eclipse chasers and astronomers because such deep partial eclipses remain rare events. The proximity to total eclipse conditions creates visual drama without the specific equipment requirements of observing a full solar eclipse. Amateur observers with binoculars or small telescopes will easily detect color changes across the Moon's surface as the umbra advances and recedes.
The next lunar eclipse reaching similar depth will not occur until December 31, 2028, when observers will experience a total lunar eclipse visible from North America and other regions. That 2028 event makes the 2026 eclipse a notable waypoint in the lunar eclipse calendar for North American skywatchers. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to observe without special protective equipment.
Clear skies permitting, observers across North America should have unobstructed views