A near-total lunar eclipse is set to be visible across the U.S. on Thursday night, with nearly the entire moon (96.2% at its peak) being shrouded in Earth's shadow. The eclipse will begin at 9:23 p.m. ET and will reach its peak at 12:12 a.m. ET. Skywatchers can view the eclipse safely with their naked eye or use binoculars and telescopes to capture more dramatic views. This is a rare opportunity for people in North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa, to witness the "blood moon" phenomenon.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A partial lunar eclipse will be visible across Canada on August 27-28. It comes two weeks after a total solar eclipse was seen in parts of Europe, including Iceland, Spain, and a small portion of Portugal. This lunar eclipse is notable because it's relatively deep, with 93% coverage at its maximum. The entire duration of the eclipse will be visible from most of Canada, while Western Canada will see the partial eclipse as the moon rises. Unlike solar eclipses, there's no need for protective eyewear to watch this event, and it will last several hours rather than minutes. This lunar eclipse is part of an "eclipse season" that occurs twice a year, when the moon passes through Earth's shadow due to the alignment of the sun, earth, and moon. The eclipse can be seen across North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa.
Written for “Lunar Eclipse News” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 2780 · logged 2026-08-27
Two weeks after a total solar eclipse wowed skywatchers in southern Europe, a near-total lunar eclipse is set to put on a show Thursday night for people across North and South America.
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eclipse → wow → America
Lunar eclipses occur when Earth slips between the sun and the moon and casts a shadow on the lunar surface.
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Earth → occur → surface
During this week’s event, nearly the entire moon — 96.2% at the eclipse’s peak — will be shrouded in Earth’s shadow.
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moon → shroud → shadow
Weather permitting, skywatchers in the continental U.S. will have some of the best views.
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skywatchers → permit → views
During the eclipse, Earth’s shadow will appear reddish orange on the lunar surface because of the way Earth’s atmosphere scatters light from the sun.
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atmosphere → appear → sun
That’s why a total lunar eclipse is also known as a “blood moon.”
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eclipse → ’ → moon
Thursday’s eclipse will begin at 9:23 p.m. ET, when the moon first enters the outer part of Earth’s shadow.
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moon → begin → shadow
The real action gets underway, however, at 10:33 p.m. ET, when Earth’s shadow starts to envelop the lunar surface, appearing to take a “bite” out of the lunar disk.
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shadow → get → disk
The eclipse will peak at 12:12 a.m. ET, when more than 96% of the lunar surface will be shrouded.
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% → peak → surface
The event will end at 3:01 a.m. ET when the moon exits the outer edge of Earth’s shadow.
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moon → end → shadow
Most viewers in North and South America, except those in Alaska and the northernmost reaches of Canada, will have a chance to see every stage of the lunar eclipse.
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viewers → have → eclipse
For those in Europe and Africa, however, the eclipse will begin early Friday, and the moon will set as the event is progressing.
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event → begin → Europe
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses can be viewed safely with the naked eye, and skywatchers can use binoculars and telescopes to catch more dramatic views.
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skywatchers → view → views
The lunar eclipse follows a total solar eclipse — when the sun, the moon and Earth align, with the moon passing in front of the sun and blocking its light — that darkened skies in Spain, a small part of Portugal, Greenland, Iceland and northern Russia.
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that → follow → Portugal
Solar and lunar eclipses usually come in pairs because of the fortuitous way the moon, Earth and sun interact.
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moon → come → way
The three celestial bodies happen to align from our perspective on Earth because the sun is 400 times farther from Earth than the moon, while also being 400 times bigger.
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sun → happen → moon
That makes them appear the same size in the sky.
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them → make → sky
Solar eclipses occur during the new moon phase.
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eclipses → occur → phase
Typically around two weeks later, when the moon is on the other side of Earth from the sun, lunar eclipses occur during the full moon phase.
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eclipses → occur → phase
The next lunar eclipse will occur overnight from Feb. 20 to 21.
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eclipse → occur → 21
It should be visible in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Antarctica, according to NASA.
uncertain
It → accord → NASA
