August 2026 Partial Lunar Eclipse: When, Where, and How to Watch the Blood Moon
A partial lunar eclipse will sweep across the night sky during the late hours of August 27 and into August 28, 2026, plunging roughly 93% to 96% of the lunar surface into darkness and bathing the moon in a coppery red glow. According to space agencies and astronomical tracking data, the celestial alignment marks the final eclipse event of 2026, following a solar eclipse earlier in the month.
The event spans a duration of approximately five hours and 38 minutes from its initial penumbral phase to its conclusion, according to data from Time and Date cited by Infobae and Clarín. Observers across the Americas will enjoy the most favorable viewing conditions, as the peak of the eclipse coincides with nighttime hours across the continent. In Argentina, the peak will occur at 1:14 a.m. on August 28, with the umbral shadow covering approximately 94% of the moon’s diameter as seen from Buenos Aires.
Visibility Across the Americas and Europe
The shadow cast by Earth will allow stargazers in North and South America to watch the complete progression of the phenomenon from beginning to end. According to NASA analyses cited by Infobae, the alignment reaches a magnitude umbral of 0.93, meaning nearly the entire lunar disk slips into the planet’s darkest shadow zone without achieving a total eclipse.
Regional timetables vary by geography. In Mexico, the peak occurs at 22:14 on August 27, while observers in Colombia and Peru will see the maximum phase at 23:14 on the same evening, according to Infobae. European and African observers face a less advantageous schedule, as the peak arrives near dawn on August 28, causing the moon to set below the horizon during the final stages of the eclipse. In Spain, the peak is slated for 6:14 a.m., and in London at 5:12 a.m., according to reporting from El País and Infobae.
Observatory Programs and Public Access
Scientific institutions are preparing public programming to mark the celestial alignment. In Argentina, the Galileo Galilei Planetarium in Buenos Aires will open its doors at 11:00 p.m. on August 27 for a free public gathering featuring expert explanations and up to 10 telescopes for attendees, as reported by Infobae.
Similarly, the ITM Observatory in Colombia announced plans to welcome visitors for the partial lunar phase, according to Caracol Radio. Astronomical guides note that the event requires no specialized eye protection, though binoculars or telescopes reveal distinct crater reliefs and subtle color variations along the darkened boundary of the lunar disk.
Chronology of the August 2026 Eclipse Phases
According to coordinated universal time (TU) conversions published by Clarín, the eclipse progresses through distinct stages:
- Penumbral start: Begins at 01:23 TU (22:23 on August 27 in Argentina and Brazil; 21:23 in Chile and Miami; 20:23 in Colombia and Peru; 19:23 in Mexico City; 03:23 on August 28 in Spain). The moon enters Earth’s outer shadow, creating a subtle shading effect.
- Partial phase start: Begins at 02:33 TU (23:33 on August 27 in Argentina and Brazil; 22:33 in Chile and Miami; 21:33 in Colombia and Peru; 20:33 in Mexico City; 04:33 on August 28 in Spain). The umbra begins to cross the lunar disk, creating a visible darkening that resembles a bite taken from the moon.
- Maximum eclipse: Reaches its peak at 04:12 TU (01:12 on August 28 in Argentina and Brazil; 00:12 in Chile and Miami; 23:12 on August 27 in Colombia and Peru; 22:12 in Mexico City; 06:12 on August 28 in Spain). The moon takes on its characteristic coppery or reddish hue, often described as a “Blood Moon.”
- Partial phase end: Concludes at 05:52 TU (02:52 in Argentina and Brazil; 01:52 in Chile and Miami; 00:52 in Colombia and Peru; 23:52 on August 27 in Mexico City; 07:52 on August 28 in Spain).
- Penumbral end: Concludes the entire sequence at 07:01 TU (04:01 in Argentina and Brazil; 03:01 in Chile and Miami; 02:01 in Colombia and Peru; 01:01 in Mexico City; 09:01 in Spain).