Near-total lunar eclipse turns moon deep red, 96% covered
A near-total lunar eclipse, coinciding with the August Sturgeon Moon, painted the Moon deep red across parts of the world overnight Thursday into Friday. At its peak, approximately 96% of the Moon's surface was covered by Earth's shadow, giving skywatchers in the Americas and parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East a striking view. Classified as a partial lunar eclipse because a small portion remained outside Earth鈥檚 darkest shadow, the umbra, the deep red and copper color resulted from sunlight passing through Earth鈥檚 atmosphere. The atmosphere filters out blue light, allowing more red and orange light to illuminate the Moon. The partial phase lasted over three hours, with the entire eclipse spanning about five and a half hours. Photographers captured the spectacle above landmarks in various countries, including the United States, Turkey, Israel, Italy, Spain, Poland, Brazil, and Guatemala. The Americas had the best viewing opportunities, while parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East also witnessed portions of the event. This was the second lunar eclipse of 2026, following a total lunar eclipse in March, and occurred just over two weeks after a total solar eclipse crossed Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. The next total lunar eclipse is anticipated on New Year鈥檚 Eve in 2028, with Asia and Australia expected to have the best views, and the next total lunar eclipse visible across North and South America is expected in 2029.
