Upcoming lunar eclipses
🌕 Next lunar eclipse
Penumbral lunar eclipse
20/02/2027, 18:14 (New York City time)
Greatest eclipse worldwide — visible wherever it is night and the Moon is above the horizon.
Upcoming lunar eclipses
Time of greatest eclipse worldwide from NASA, in New York City time. It is not visible everywhere.
- Penumbral lunar eclipse20/02/2027, 18:14 in 143 days
- Penumbral lunar eclipse18/07/2027, 12:04 in 291 days
- Penumbral lunar eclipse17/08/2027, 03:14 in 321 days
- Partial lunar eclipse11/01/2028, 23:14 in 468 days
- Partial lunar eclipse06/07/2028, 14:20 in 645 days
- Total lunar eclipse31/12/2028, 11:53 in 823 days
- Total lunar eclipse25/06/2029, 23:23 in 999 days
- Total lunar eclipse20/12/2029, 17:43 in 1177 days
Source: NASA Eclipse Web Site (eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov)
Types of lunar eclipse
- TotalThe Moon lies fully in Earth's shadow and turns deep red — a “blood moon” — as sunlight is bent through Earth's atmosphere.
- PartialOnly part of the Moon enters the dark shadow, as if a dark bite were taken out of it.
- PenumbralThe Moon passes only through the faint outer shadow; it dims slightly and is hard to notice.
How to watch a lunar eclipse
- Safe to the naked eyeUnlike a solar eclipse, you can watch with your eyes, binoculars or a telescope.
- Check the clouds firstSee that night's cloud cover on the Night sky page; you only need a clear sky towards the Moon.
- Use a tripodTotality is thousands of times darker than a full moon — use a tripod and longer exposures.
- It lasts for hoursThe whole event takes 2–4 hours; totality can exceed an hour, so no need to rush.
Lunar eclipse FAQ
When is the next lunar eclipse?
The card at the top shows the next eclipse and the days left; the list below has the following ones from NASA's catalogue, in local time.
Where can a lunar eclipse be seen?
Anywhere it is night and the Moon is above the horizon — about half of the Earth. If the maximum falls in your daytime, you will not see it.
Why a “blood moon”?
During totality, sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere loses its blue and is bent into the shadow, leaving red-orange light on the Moon — the colour of all Earth's sunrises and sunsets together.
Why isn't there a lunar eclipse every month?
The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5° to Earth's, so at most full moons it passes above or below Earth's shadow. There are usually 2–4 lunar eclipses of all kinds a year.