Skywatchers across the UK, Europe, and parts of the United States are in for a celestial treat this week as a deep partial lunar eclipse paints the full Sturgeon Moon in shades of rusty red. The phenomenon occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, with Earth’s shadow swallowing up to 96 percent of the lunar surface in some regions.
The eclipse comes just weeks after a dramatic partial solar eclipse wowed observers in the UK, and follows the total solar eclipse that captivated Europeans earlier this month. Unlike a solar eclipse, no special glasses are needed to watch the Moon darken and change colour — looking directly at a lunar eclipse is perfectly safe.
In the UK, the partial phase begins at 03:33 BST in London, when the Moon enters Earth’s darkest shadow, the umbra. It reaches its maximum at 05:12 BST, when around 90 percent of the Moon will be within the umbra. At that point, the Moon will sit very low in the south-western sky, triggering a phenomenon known as the Moon illusion, which makes the lunar disc appear larger and more dramatic than usual. Exact moonset times vary, but in London the Moon will dip out of sight at approximately 06:15 BST.
For observers in Europe, the eclipse unfolds in the early hours of Friday, 28 August, just before dawn. In Spain, the partial phase starts at 04:34 local time and ends at 07:52, with the peak at about 06:12, when Earth’s shadow covers 93 percent of the Moon. The Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla are all prime viewing spots, provided skies stay clear. In central and eastern Spain, the Moon sets before the eclipse finishes, but in the Canaries and Ceuta, the entire process is visible.
Italy’s best chances lie in Naples, Rome, and Venice, where cloud cover is forecast to be lowest. Bologna and Turin also offer decent odds, while Genoa and Milan face cloudier skies. In France, conditions look less favourable, with widespread cloud and rain predicted for Friday morning. Marseille and Strasbourg have the best chance of a clear view, though heavy rain or lightning could interfere.
Portugal’s skywatchers need to be up early: the eclipse begins at 02:23 local time and ends at 08:01. Lisbon, Amadora, Braga, and Coimbra currently have the clearest forecasts. In Germany, the eclipse starts at 04:33 CEST, but by the time it peaks at 06:13, the Moon has already set in eastern regions. Western Germany may catch a bit more, though the Moon’s exit from the umbra at 07:53 occurs long after sunrise.
Across the Atlantic, viewers in Northern California can witness the eclipse on Thursday evening, 27 August, as the Moon rises in the east while the Sun sets in the west. The maximum coverage, with 96 percent of the Moon in shadow, occurs at 9:12 p.m. Pacific Time, leaving only a bright sliver of silvery Moon. The Moon exits the umbra by 10:51 p.m., making it an early night for celestial fans.
The reddish colour is caused by Earth’s atmosphere: sunlight passing through it is scattered, with shorter blue wavelengths bouncing away while longer red wavelengths reach the Moon and reflect back. Think of it as all the world’s sunrises and sunsets projected onto the lunar surface at once, as the Strasbourg-based astronomers explain.
Weather remains the wild card. In the UK, low pressure brings cloud and heavy showers to some areas, while central and eastern England and Wales currently offer the best viewing conditions, though forecasters warn that cloud cover can change hour by hour. For the best views anywhere, astronomers recommend a high vantage point with an unobstructed view toward the south-western horizon, and clear skies are, of course, essential.
For those who cannot watch in person, timeanddate.com will stream the eclipse live on YouTube, ensuring no one misses this rare alignment of Sun, Earth, and Moon.
