A Partial Lunar Eclipse Closes Out August
Global visibility map for the partial lunar eclipse of August 28, 2026. Credit: NASA/GSFC Eclipse Website (F. Espenak)
The final eclipse of August 2026 will be a partial lunar eclipse on August 28 — one more major sky event before the month ends, and a far more forgiving one to watch than the total solar eclipse that crossed Spain just sixteen days earlier. No special filters, glasses or precautions are needed: lunar eclipses are entirely safe to watch with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.
When It Happens
According to NASA's eclipse predictions, the partial phase begins around 02:34 UT, greatest eclipse falls around 04:13 UT, and the partial phase ends around 05:52 UT on August 28, 2026. Convert those times to your own local time zone to know exactly when to look up — the whole partial sequence runs a little over three hours.
This eclipse belongs to Saros series 138. Its umbral magnitude is approximately 0.93 — meaning about 93% of the Moon's diameter passes into Earth's dark umbral shadow at maximum, a deep partial eclipse just short of total.
What You'll See
As the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, a dark bite appears to grow across one side of its disc, deepening toward greatest eclipse before receding. Because the umbral magnitude is high without quite reaching totality, expect a noticeably large, dark shadow to cross most of the Moon's face at maximum — without the fuller, reddish "Blood Moon" effect of a total lunar eclipse.
How to Watch
No equipment is required — a partial lunar eclipse is a naked-eye event. Binoculars or a small telescope will sharpen the view of the shadow's edge as it advances across lunar terrain, and it's a genuinely approachable target for astrophotography, needing nothing more exotic than a camera capable of manual exposure and a stable mount or tripod.
For general eclipse-watching safety and technique — this one included — see ORIVON's eclipse safety guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
August 28, 2026. The partial phase begins around 02:34 UT, greatest eclipse falls around 04:13 UT, and the partial phase ends around 05:52 UT. Convert these UT times to your own local time zone to know when to look up.
No. Lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope — unlike a solar eclipse, there is no direct sunlight involved.
This eclipse has an umbral magnitude of about 0.93, meaning roughly 93% of the Moon's diameter passes into Earth's darkest shadow at maximum — a deep partial eclipse, though not quite total.