Get ready for another amazing sight in the sky! In the early hours of tomorrow morning, the 28th of August (weather permitting), we will be treated to a partial lunar eclipse, and at its maximum, an incredible 93% of the Moon's diameter will be covered by the Earth's shadow. This is going to be a spectacular sight and well worth setting your alarm for!
If you would like to know more about the partial lunar eclipse including what a lunar eclipse is, when the eclipse will occur, and tips on how best to view it, please read on…
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth stands directly between the Moon and the Sun, resulting in the Earth casting its shadow on the Moon.
The Earth casts a faint outer shadow called the Penumbra and a darker central shadow called the Umbra.
When the Moon enters the Penumbra this is known as a Penumbral lunar eclipse. However as the Penumbral shadow is very faint, it is very hard to discern any change in the Moon's appearance during a penumbral eclipse.
A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon partially enters the Earth's umbral shadow. The portion of the Moon within the Umbra will discernibly appear much darker than the rest of its surface, giving the Moon a dramatic and striking appearance.
When will the eclipse occur and what will happen?
Here is a full breakdown of the timings for the partial lunar eclipse for those in central UK, along with what to expect at each stage.
Timings for central UK
02:24 BST — Penumbral eclipse begins. The Moon enters the Earth's faint outer shadow. At this stage it will be almost impossible to discern any difference in the appearance of the Moon, but as it slowly travels further into the Penumbra, one side of the Moon will gradually begin to appear darker.
03:34 BST — Partial eclipse begins. The Moon begins to enter the Earth's umbral shadow and will start to become more obviously darker.
05:13 BST — Maximum eclipse. This is the most spectacular moment of the eclipse when 93% of the Moon's diameter will be covered by the Earth's umbral shadow. At this point the Moon will be fairly low in the sky at around 8 degrees above the horizon, so make sure you have a clear view to the west!
06:20 BST — Moonset. Unfortunately the entire eclipse will not be visible from the UK as the Moon will set at around 06:20 BST while it is still partly within the Earth's umbral shadow.
Which direction to look
Look towards the west in the early hours of the morning. The Moon will be low in the sky during the most dramatic stages of the eclipse, so finding a location with a clear unobstructed view of the western horizon will give you the best chance of witnessing the event.
Where will be best to view the eclipse from?
We recommend finding an elevated viewpoint with clear unobstructed views of the western horizon. As the Moon will be very low in the sky at the time of maximum eclipse, any trees, buildings or hills to the west could block your view. The higher and more open your viewpoint, the better.
Other hints and tips
As the Moon will be quite low in the sky during the most dramatic stages of the eclipse, a pair of binoculars or a telescope will really help you observe it in detail and make the most of the spectacle. You could also use an augmented reality astronomy app such as Stellarium on your smartphone to help you locate the Moon and know exactly where to look.
It is also worth noting that the early morning hours can be surprisingly chilly even in August, so wrap up warm and bring a flask of something hot if you plan to head out to watch! ☕
What else is in the night sky throughout August?
If you would like to know more about the rest of the incredible celestial treats taking place throughout August, please head to our August Night Sky Guide on our website, or watch our Night Sky Guide video for August 2026 on our YouTube channel @AstroDogUK. If you head over to YouTube, please do subscribe to make sure you never miss any celestial events!
Share your experiences and photographs!
We always love hearing about your celestial adventures and seeing your photographs! If you head out to witness the partial lunar eclipse or any other sights in the night sky, please feel free to share your stories and photos in the comments below, we would absolutely love to see them! 😊
Good luck and clear skies!
Despite the Moon being low in the sky and the eclipse not being fully visible from the UK before moonset, this is still going to be a truly spectacular event and we absolutely recommend heading out to witness it if you can.
If you do head out to enjoy the lunar eclipse or the night sky at any point, we wish you the very best of luck and clear skies! 💖✨🌕
