Something unusual is about to happen above our heads as the Moon begins a journey through Earth’s shadow. The event will create a striking view in the sky, but timing and location will determine who gets the best spectacle.
This week, a near-total lunar eclipse will be visible across the Americas, Africa, and Europe, as Earth’s shadow blankets nearly the entire Moon. The eclipse will peak at96.3 percent coverage, giving the Moon its characteristic reddish “blood moon” glow.The celestial event will take place on Thursday night and will be visible from a wide region of the planet. Unlike a solar eclipse, this phenomenon can be watched directly without protective equipment, allowing observers to follow the Moon’s transformation with the naked eye.
This eclipse will be the second and final lunar eclipse of 2026, following a total lunar eclipse that occurred in March. It gives sky-watchers another opportunity to observe the interaction between the Sun, Earth and Moon as our planet’s shadow moves across its natural satellite.
NASA reports that the eclipse will be at least partially visible from almost every location in the United States, except for certain areas of Alaska. A visibility map created by the NASA Scientific Visualization Studio shows where the different phases of the eclipse can be seen
The first stage of the eclipse will begin at around 9:23 P.M. EDT on Thursday. The most noticeable phase will start at approximately 10:34 P.M. EDT, when the lunar body begins moving into the umbra, the darkest part of Earth’s shadow. The eclipse will reach its maximum point at around 12:13 A.M. EDT on August 28. At that moment, Earth’s shadow will cover almost the entire lunar surface, producing the near-total eclipse effect visible from the affected regions.
A lunar eclipse happens when Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon. The planet blocks direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface, causing the Moon to pass through different sections of Earth’s shadow.
The exact view will depend on location, since the eclipse unfolds over several hours as the Moon crosses Earth’s shadow. Observers in some regions will be able to watch the complete sequence from start to finish, while others will catch only part of the event, whether the beginning, the peak, or the end, depending on whether the satelitte is above the horizon during that particular phase. Local weather conditions and light pollution will also play a role in how clearly the eclipse can be observed.
The reddish color of a blood moon is caused by the way sunlight travels through Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse. Although Earth blocks direct sunlight, some light bends around the planet and reaches the Moon.
Blue wavelengths are scattered away more easily, while red wavelengths pass through the atmosphere and continue toward the lunar surface. This filtered light gives the earth’s satelitte its distinctive reddish appearance during the deepest phase of the eclipse.
Scientific American explains that this process is responsible for the “blood moon” effect often associated with lunar eclipses. The nickname refers only to the temporary color change created by the interaction between sunlight, Earth’s atmosphere and the lunar surface.
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