Stargazers fancying staying in doors to watch the lunar eclipse this evening can join our live stream and watch along as the Moon drifts through the Earth’s shadow to create a ‘Blood Moon’
The moon passes through the darkest part of Earth’s shadow and will turn turns a reddish colour overnight. The 96.2% partial eclipse is expected to start at 2.33am BST and last more than three hours.
It will also be visible across parts of the world as our livestream will go take you to see the stunning event from different countries.
It is expected to peak (maximum eclipse) at 4.12am BST. Solar and lunar eclipses happen due to a precise alignment of the sun, moon and Earth. The eclipses tend to follow each other, taking advantage of a sweet spot in the celestial bodies’ orbits.
As the Moon drifts through Earth’s shadow, with only a portion of the lunar surface entering the dark central zone called the umbra, while the remainder stays within the lighter outer shadow, or penumbra. Also know as a “Blood Moon”.
Though the phenomenon stops just shy of being a total lunar eclipse this time, the substantial portion of the Moon is engulfed in Earth’s deepest shadow to create a stunning spectacle in the night sky.
Watch our Lunar Eclipse 2026 livestream
The eclipse will not only be visible throughout the UK and Ireland but also from vast areas of Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Based on the observer’s location and time zone, some regions will witness the event taking place during the late evening of August 27 rather than in the early hours of August 28.
Livestream schedule (Place below are listed for the live feed but may be subject to change):
- From Buenos Aires’ planetarium park, Argentina
- From Lisbon, Portugol
- From San Diego, US
- From Santiago in Chile
- From Durham in the UK
- From Saint John in Canada
- From Bogota in Colombia
Exact time partial lunar eclipse will be visible in the UK
The partial lunar eclipse will unfold over several hours in the early morning of 28 August. The penumbral phase kicks off at 2.23am BST, marking the moment when the Moon begins to enter Earth’s lighter outer shadow.
The more noticeable partial eclipse will commence at 3.33am BST as the Moon moves into the darker umbra. The event reaches its peak at 5.12am BST, when around 93% of the Moon will be engulfed in Earth’s deepest shadow.
However, observers in the UK and Ireland won’t be able to see the eclipse through to its conclusion, as the Moon will set below the horizon before the event wraps up.
In London, moonset is anticipated at approximately 6.15am, though timings will differ depending on location, while the partial eclipse itself is scheduled to conclude at 6.51am BST.
How can you see it?
The partial lunar eclipse will be visible across the UK and Ireland in the early hours of Friday morning, although viewing conditions may become trickier as the event progresses because the Moon will descend towards the horizon.
For the best view, sky-gazers should find a high vantage point with an unblocked view of the south-western sky, allowing them to witness as much of the eclipse as possible before the Moon sets. You can also watch it from around the world via our livestream above.
There’s no need for specialist equipment or protective eyewear, making it perfectly safe to watch with the naked eye, just like you would a full Moon.
However, as with any celestial event, visibility will ultimately hinge on the weather, and cloud cover could thwart some people from seeing the eclipse.
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