A near-total lunar eclipse will be visible across the contiguous United States starting Thursday night, Aug. 27, 2026 [1].
The event provides a rare opportunity for observers to witness a significant portion of the Moon disappear into Earth's shadow. Because the eclipse is visible across the entire contiguous U.S., including states like Oklahoma, millions of people will have a clear view of the celestial alignment [2].
The eclipse begins Thursday night and continues into the early hours of Friday, Aug. 28 [3]. During the event, the Earth will pass directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow over the lunar surface. This alignment causes the moon to take on a deep red hue, a phenomenon often associated with the Full Sturgeon Moon [4].
Estimates on the exact extent of the coverage vary slightly among sources. One report states that about 96% of the moon will pass through Earth's dark inner shadow [1]. Another source reports that at the maximum point of the eclipse, approximately 93% of the Moon's diameter will be inside the umbra, which is Earth's dark central shadow [5].
Observers do not need special equipment to view the event. The Americas are positioned for the best viewing experience as the shadow envelops the moon [6]. The event will be visible to anyone with an unobstructed view of the night sky across the U.S. [2].
"The Americas will have the best seats in the celestial house when Earth's shadow briefly envelops the moon," a reporter for NBC News said [6].
“About 96% of the moon will pass through Earth's dark inner shadow.”
This event is a near-total lunar eclipse rather than a full total eclipse, meaning a small sliver of the Moon will remain outside the umbra. The deep red color occurs because Earth's atmosphere bends sunlight and filters out shorter wavelengths, allowing only the longer red wavelengths to reach the lunar surface.
