Lunar eclipse 2026 guide: Everything to know about the must-see sky show

THE TAKEAWAY Astronomers and skywatchers are bracing for another celestial event to dazzle the sky this week as a partial lunar eclipse takes place from Aug. 27 to 28. On Aug. 28 and starting the evening of the 27th in some time zones, the moon will pass into the shadow of Earth, creating a deep particle eclipse. The partial phase of the eclipse will occur at 2:34 p.m. HST, where the umbra’s effect will take a large bite out of the full moon, also turning it into a picturesque copper color. POWERFUL SOLAR FLARE ERUPTS FROM THE SUN, RAISING CHANCES FOR DAZZLING NORTHERN LIGHTS DISPLAY BY FRIDAY \"Because the moon will track so deeply into the shadow, viewers can expect the obscured portion of the moon to take on a dramatic rusty, coppery, or reddish tint — similar to a traditional Blood Moon,\" the FOX Forecast Center said. This graphic shows the time the eclipse will occur around North America.(FOX Weather) During the peak of the eclipse at 4:13 a.m. HST, 96.3% of the moon's disc will be within Earth’s umbra, creating almost complete darkness for some portions of North America, South America, Europe and Western Africa. Some areas in the U.S. will have a better viewing experience than others, but the eclipse will be visible to the entire country. NASA AIMS TO PUT ASTRONAUTS BACK ON THE MOON BY 2028 When and where to watch The peak of the eclipse will occur around midnight for most locations, with the East Coast kicking things off a bit earlier in the evening and others in the West seeing the peak closer to 9 p.m. If you want to observe the celestial event, it would be wise to set up early in the evening, by 7 p.m. to catch the eclipse from start to finish. This graphic shows the best viewing locations in the U.S. for the partial lunar eclipse.(FOX Weather) The best regions for viewing the partial lunar eclipse will be the Midwest and West Coast, while the worst places to watch are the Northeast and Southeast. POWERFUL SOLAR FLARE ERUPTS FROM THE SUN, RAISING CHANCES FOR DAZZLING NORTHERN LIGHTS DISPLAY BY FRIDAY This graphic shows the cloud coverage around the U.S. during the partial lunar eclipse.(FOX Weather) How to watch a lunar eclipse SUNLIGHT FOR SALE: GIANT SPACE MIRROR COULD ONE DAY BRING DAYLIGHT TO EARTH AT NIGHT Setting up early with ideal lighting in your viewing area, along with minimal cloud cover, will be the best recipe for viewing the partial lunar eclipse and its rare, picturesque qualities. This will be the best lunar eclipse visible for most of the U.S. until June 2029.