Overview
- The eclipse peaks overnight Thursday into Friday, Aug. 27–28, at about 04:12–04:13 UTC (roughly 12:12–12:13 a.m. EDT), with agencies reporting that roughly 93–96% of the lunar disk enters Earth’s umbral shadow at maximum.
- All or part of the event will be visible across the United States and much of the Americas, with parts of western Europe and western Africa able to see late stages; Alaska and Hawaii will miss the peak because the Moon is below the horizon at that time.
- Observers do not need protective eyewear because lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye and many organizations including NASA and TimeandDate are offering live streams and local timing tools for those blocked by weather or horizon limits.
- Forecasters warn that local cloud cover and a low western horizon in Europe and the UK are the main factors that will limit views, and Met Office forecasts show variable skies with the best early chances in southern and eastern England.
- The event follows the Aug. 12 solar eclipse and is being tracked by coordinated ground, airborne and satellite teams; the Moon’s red or copper hue comes from sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere, with dust and aerosols affecting color and brightness.