Blood Moon: Partial Lunar Eclipse to Illuminate Skies on Friday

Skywatchers across Africa and several other parts of the world are expected to witness a spectacular partial lunar eclipse on Friday, August 28, 2026, according to information from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The celestial event, popularly referred to as a “blood moon” because of the reddish colour the Moon can take on during an eclipse, will occur as the Moon moves through the Earth’s shadow.

NASA said the August 27–28 lunar eclipse will be visible from parts of the Americas, Europe, Africa and Western Asia, giving millions of people an opportunity to observe the astronomical phenomenon.

The eclipse is expected to begin at about 9:23 p.m. Eastern Time, when the Moon first enters the outer portion of the Earth’s shadow, known as the penumbra.

As the event progresses, the Moon will move deeper into the Earth’s shadow. By approximately 10:33 p.m. Eastern Time, the darker central shadow, known as the umbra, will begin to cover part of the lunar surface.

This will create the striking visual effect of a portion of the Moon appearing darker and reddish as the eclipse develops.

The eclipse is expected to reach its maximum at around 12:12 a.m. Eastern Time, when more than 96 per cent of the Moon will be covered by the Earth’s shadow.

Following the peak, the Moon will gradually move out of the shadow as the eclipse comes to an end.

NASA said the Moon is expected to completely leave the outer edge of the Earth’s shadow at approximately 3:01 a.m. Eastern Time.

Unlike a total lunar eclipse, in which the entire Moon passes into the Earth’s umbra, this event will remain a partial eclipse, with a small portion of the lunar surface remaining outside the darkest part of the shadow.

Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth and Moon align in such a way that the Earth blocks some of the sunlight that would normally illuminate the Moon.

During the event, the Moon can appear reddish because sunlight passing through the Earth’s atmosphere is filtered and bent toward the lunar surface.

NASA listed the August 27–28, 2026 event as a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible across broad areas of the Americas, Europe, Africa and Western Asia.

The phenomenon is expected to attract the attention of astronomy enthusiasts, photographers and skywatchers, particularly in areas where weather conditions provide clear skies.

For observers, the eclipse offers an opportunity to witness one of nature’s most fascinating astronomical events without the need for specialised equipment.

However, visibility will depend on the observer’s location, local weather conditions and the position of the Moon in the sky at the time of the eclipse.

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