How to Spot the Copper Lunar Eclipse in the US This Week

August 24, 2026 | 05:25 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yet another lunar phenomenon will grace the sky this month as a deep partial lunar eclipse turns the full Sturgeon Moon a striking copper-red hue. Visible across North and South America, the event will unfold overnight on August 27 into the early morning of August 28, 2026.

This marks the first lunar eclipse visible from the region since September 2024, arriving just two weeks after the August 12 solar eclipse.

What Is the "Copper" Lunar Eclipse?

The upcoming event is a deep partial lunar eclipse occurring during the full Sturgeon Moon. Unlike a total lunar eclipse, which is often called a Blood Moon, where the entire moon is submerged in Earth's central shadow, a partial eclipse leaves a section illuminated.

At peak coverage, Earth's shadow will cover between 93 and 96 percent of the moon's surface, according to reports from Discover Magazine. The moon will take on a reddish tint due to Rayleigh scattering. CBS8 reported via NASA that Earth's atmosphere filters out shorter blue light wavelengths while bending longer red wavelengths onto the lunar surface. Smoke from summer wildfires or atmospheric dust can make the red shade appear even deeper.

Which Regions Can See the Copper Moon?

The eclipse will be visible across North and South America, alongside parts of Europe and western Africa. According to data cited by USA Today, roughly 987 million people across the Americas, or about 12 percent of the global population, will be able to view all phases, weather permitting.

When Will the Lunar Eclipse Peak?

The eclipse will span a total duration of 5 hours and 38 minutes, with the darkest umbral phase lasting 3 hours and 18 minutes, according to USA Today.

According to NASA data, the central timeline unfolds as follows:

- 8:24 p.m. CT (August 27): Penumbra entry as the moon enters Earth's faint outer shadow.

- 9:34 p.m. CT: Umbra entry as the moon enters the dark central shadow.

- 11:13 p.m. CT: Maximum eclipse peak as the moon reaches its deepest coverage.

- 12:52 a.m. CT (August 28): Umbra exit as the dark partial phase ends.

- 2:02 a.m. CT: Penumbra exit as the eclipse officially concludes.

Where and How to See the Lunar Eclipse

For observers in the United States, watching the eclipse requires no protective eyewear. Unlike solar eclipses, NASA confirms that lunar eclipses are completely safe to view with the naked eye.

Stargazers can catch the phenomenon simply by heading outdoors to an open area with low light pollution and clear skies. While no tools are necessary, binoculars, small telescopes, or camera lenses can provide an enhanced view of Earth’s curved shadow as it sweeps across the lunar surface.

In western parts of the US, the moon will sit lower near the horizon during the early penumbral stage, but the peak red hue will be visible across most of the nation.

According to NASA records, this week's Copper Lunar Eclipse marks the deepest pass through Earth's shadow until the next total lunar eclipse arrives on December 31, 2028.

Read: Here's Everything to Know About August's Lunar Eclipse

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