August 2026 lunar eclipse

A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Friday, August 28, 2026, with an umbral magnitude of 0.9319. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when one part of the Moon is in the Earth's umbra, while the other part is in the Earth's penumbra. Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth. Occurring about 5.8 days after apogee (08:20 UTC, August 22) and about 9.7 days before perigee (20:26 UTC, September 6), the Moon's apparent diameter was less than average.

This lunar eclipse was the last of an almost tetrad, with the others being on March 14, 2025 (total), September 8, 2025 (total), and March 3, 2026 (total).

Visibility The eclipse was completely visible over North and South America, seen rising over the central Pacific Ocean and setting over Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Storms were forecasted to impact the East Coast in the United States, which led to no visibility of partiality.

Gallery

Eclipse details Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.

+August 28, 2026 Lunar Eclipse Parameters Parameter Value Penumbral Magnitude 1.96645 Umbral Magnitude 0.93187 Gamma 0.49644 Sun Right Ascension Sun Declination Sun Semi-Diameter 15'50.0" Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.7" Moon Right Ascension Moon Declination Moon Semi-Diameter 15'18.2" Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 0°56'09.9" ΔT 69.2 s

Eclipse season

This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a fortnight.

+ Eclipse season of August 2026 August 12Descending node (new moon) August 28Ascending node (full moon) Total solar eclipseSolar Saros 126 Partial lunar eclipseLunar Saros 138

Related eclipses Eclipses in 2026 An annular solar eclipse on February 17. A total lunar eclipse on March 3. A total solar eclipse on August 12. A partial lunar eclipse on August 28.

Metonic Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 8, 2022 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 2030

Tzolkinex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 2019 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 8, 2033

Half-Saros Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 2, 2035

Tritos Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 28, 2015 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 27, 2037

Lunar Saros 138 Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 16, 2008 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 7, 2044

Inex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 1997 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 7, 2055

Triad Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 28, 1939 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 29, 2113

Lunar eclipses of 2024–2027

Metonic series

Saros 138

Tritos series

Inex series

Half-Saros cycle A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros This lunar eclipse is related to two total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 145.

August 21, 2017September 1–2, 2035

August 2026 lunar eclipse

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