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Key Facts

• A deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible across much of North and South America.
• About 96% of the Moon will enter Earth’s darkest shadow.
• On August 2, 2027, a rare six-minute total solar eclipse will cross North Africa and the Middle East.

By Samuel López | USA Herald

Americans with clear skies late Thursday, August 27, into early Friday, August 28, will have a front-row seat to one of the year’s most dramatic night-sky events: a deep partial lunar eclipse that will cover nearly the entire face of the Moon in Earth’s shadow.

This is not a solar eclipse. It is a lunar eclipse, meaning it is safe to watch with the naked eye—no special eclipse glasses required. The event will be visible, weather permitting, from much of North and South America, with portions of Europe and Africa also able to see at least part of the spectacle. NASA lists the eclipse’s visibility region as the Americas, Europe, Africa, and western Asia. NASA’s future-eclipse schedule

At maximum eclipse, approximately 96.2% of the Moon’s disk will be inside Earth’s umbra—the central, darkest portion of its shadow. That makes it a partial eclipse by astronomical definition, but visually it may look remarkably close to a total “blood moon.” Timeanddate.com’s eclipse overview

The familiar bright full Moon will gradually appear to lose its light as Earth moves directly between the Sun and Moon. As the Moon sinks deeper into the umbra, much of its surface may take on coppery, rust-red, or orange hues.

That color is not caused by the Moon itself changing. It is sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere scatters more blue light and bends some red and orange light into the shadow, effectively casting the colors of countless sunrises and sunsets around Earth onto the lunar surface.

For U.S. observers, the exact appearance and local timing will depend on location, horizon conditions, and cloud cover. The western and central United States will generally have a more favorable nighttime view than places where the eclipse occurs closer to moonrise, moonset, or dawn. The most practical advice is simple: find an unobstructed view of the sky, check local weather, and begin watching well before the predicted maximum for your location.

Unlike a solar eclipse, lunar observing does not pose an eye-safety hazard. Binoculars or a small telescope can enhance the view, but neither is necessary. A camera on a tripod can help capture the shifting colors, though the event will be plainly visible to anyone looking up under clear skies.

The August 27–28 event comes just weeks after the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse, which crossed far northern parts of the world and was only partial from limited portions of the United States. NASA’s August skywatching guide specifically identifies the late-August lunar event as visible from much of North and South America. NASA’s August 2026 guide

But for eclipse chasers, the next truly monumental date is already on the calendar: August 2, 2027.

That day, a total solar eclipse—often called the “Eclipse of the Century”—will send the Moon’s narrow central shadow across southern Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. The path of totality will run through areas including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia.

Near Luxor, Egypt, totality is expected to last about six minutes and 22 seconds. That is an extraordinary duration: the National Solar Observatory describes it as the second-longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century. National Solar Observatory’s 2027 eclipse map

For comparison, the total phase of many solar eclipses lasts only a few minutes. During totality, day briefly becomes twilight, temperatures can fall, bright stars and planets may emerge, and the Sun’s outer atmosphere—the corona—becomes visible.

The 2027 eclipse will not bring totality to the continental United States. NASA says a partial solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, southeast Asia, eastern Canada, and northern Maine. NASA

Americans hoping to see the full event would need to travel into the narrow path of totality abroad.

There is one crucial distinction: while the August 2026 lunar eclipse is safe to view directly, a solar eclipse requires certified eclipse glasses during every partial phase. Looking at the Sun without proper protection can permanently damage eyesight.

For now, the upcoming “blood moon” offers a far easier opportunity—one available from backyards, balconies, parks, and quiet streets across much of the Americas. Clear skies may be the only ticket required.