08/19/2026
August isn’t done with the sky shows just yet! ✨
Overnight on August 27–28, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible across most of North America, all of South America, and much of Europe and Africa.
A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow. This one will be a VERY deep partial eclipse, with about 96% of the Moon entering the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra.
And yes, it could get pretty red. 🔴 The first photo shows a 97% partial lunar eclipse from 2021, very similar in depth to the roughly 96% eclipse we’re expecting this month.
Even though Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching that part of the Moon, some sunlight passes through our atmosphere and still makes its way there. Our atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths of light more effectively, while more of the red and orange light gets through.
Sound familiar? It’s related to the same phenomenon, called Rayleigh scattering, that helps give us colourful sunrises and sunsets!
Here’s when to look up in Greater Sudbury (weather permitting!):
🌘 Partial eclipse begins: 10:34pm
🌑 Maximum eclipse: 12:13am
🌒 Partial eclipse ends: 1:52am
The subtler penumbral phase begins at 9:24pm, and the eclipse wraps up around 3:02am.
And remember that solar eclipse we had earlier this month? Eclipses don’t come alone! Solar and lunar eclipses occur about two weeks apart during what astronomers call an eclipse season.
No telescope needed for this one. Just hope for clear skies, head outside and look up. 🔭
📷 Images from lunar eclipses in 2021 and 2025. NASA/Michael DeMocker
