Ask the Meteorologist: What to know about Thursday night's partial lunar eclipse - WRAL
A partial lunar eclipse will occur late Thursday night into early Friday morning, August 27-28, 2026. The event will see 96% of the moon covered by Earth's shadow, with peak visibility occurring shortly after midnight.
Why it matters
This provides a rare astronomical viewing opportunity for the public and highlights upcoming celestial events for the next several years.
A partial lunar eclipse will take place late Thursday night into early Friday morning, August 27 to August 28, 2026.
At its peak, 96% of the moon's surface will go into the earth's inner shadow (umbra) and appear red. This will happen shortly after midnight.
A lunar eclipse happens when the earth is sandwiched between the sun and the moon. The earth's shadow is then cast onto the lunar surface.
When you see the red hues on the moon, you're essentially seeing all of Earth's sunrises and sunsets projected onto the moon.
According to NASA Ambassador, Tony Rice, there are specific times to watch.
He wrote a detailed article regarding the lunar eclipse on wral.com.
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