How to Watch a Lunar Eclipse, and When the Next Ones Happen
A total lunar eclipse is one of the easiest big sky events to enjoy. You need no special equipment, it unfolds slowly over a few hours, and you do not have to travel to a narrow path the way you do for a total solar eclipse. NASA notes that "each lunar eclipse is visible from half of Earth," meaning everyone on the night side of the planet at the time can watch.
1. What a lunar eclipse is
NASA's Moon science page explains that lunar eclipses "occur at the full Moon phase," when "Earth is positioned precisely between the Moon and Sun" and Earth's shadow falls on the Moon. They do not happen every month because the Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 degrees compared with Earth's orbit around the Sun, so the Moon usually passes just above or below the shadow.
2. Three kinds of lunar eclipse
NASA describes three types:
- Total: the Moon moves fully into the umbra, the inner part of Earth's shadow, and turns orange or red.
- Partial: the alignment is imperfect, so only part of the Moon enters the umbra. "The shadow grows and then recedes without ever entirely covering the Moon."
- Penumbral: the Moon passes only through the penumbra, the faint outer shadow. NASA warns that "if you don't know this one is happening, you might miss it," because the dimming is so slight.
3. Why the Moon turns red
During totality, some sunlight still reaches the Moon after passing through Earth's atmosphere. NASA explains that blue light scatters away more easily, while red and orange light travel through. In NASA's words, "It's as if all the world's sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon." NASA adds that "the more dust or clouds in Earth's atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the Moon appears," which is why no two total eclipses look exactly alike.
4. What you will see, stage by stage
NASA's guide to the March 2025 total lunar eclipse lists the stages in order, and they apply to any total eclipse:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Penumbral eclipse begins | The Moon enters the outer shadow and starts to dim, "but the effect is quite subtle" |
| Partial eclipse begins | A dark "bite" appears on one edge as the Moon enters the umbra |
| Totality begins | The whole Moon is in the umbra and turns "a coppery red" |
| Totality ends | The red fades as a bite appears on the opposite edge |
| Partial eclipse ends | The Moon leaves the umbra; only subtle dimming remains |
| Penumbral eclipse ends | The eclipse is over |
For a total eclipse, the partial phases from first bite to last take around three and a half hours. NASA's 2021 to 2030 table lists 3 hours 29 minutes to 3 hours 40 minutes for the total eclipses of 2028 and 2029.
5. How to watch
Safety is simple. NASA states: "It is safe to look at the Moon with unprotected eyes or through a telescope during all types and during all stages of a lunar eclipse." Unlike a solar eclipse, no eclipse glasses are needed.
Equipment is optional. NASA's eclipse guide says, "You don't need any special equipment to observe a lunar eclipse, although binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view." It also recommends "a dark environment away from bright lights" for the best conditions.
Look around, too. NASA notes that as Earth's shadow dims the Moon, "constellations may be easier to spot than usual." A total eclipse is a rare chance to see fainter stars near a full Moon.
For photos, NASA suggests a camera on a tripod "with exposures of at least several seconds" during totality.
6. Upcoming lunar eclipses
The table below lists every lunar eclipse from early 2027 through 2029, from NASA Goddard's 2021 to 2030 eclipse table by Fred Espenak. Dates are NASA's calendar dates for the moment of greatest eclipse, measured on a global time standard, so in the Americas the eclipse can fall on the evening before the listed date. The regions are where at least part of the eclipse can be seen.
| Date | Type | Totality | Visible from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2027 | Penumbral | None | Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia |
| Jul 18, 2027 | Penumbral | None | Eastern Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific |
| Aug 17, 2027 | Penumbral | None | Pacific, Americas |
| Jan 12, 2028 | Partial | None | Americas, Europe, Africa |
| Jul 6, 2028 | Partial | None | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia |
| Dec 31, 2028 | Total | 1 hr 11 min | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific |
| Jun 26, 2029 | Total | 1 hr 42 min | Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East |
| Dec 20, 2029 | Total | 54 min | Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia |
As of October 14, 2026, the next total lunar eclipse, on December 31, 2028, is about 809 days, or roughly 2.2 years, away. The most recent ones were the total eclipse of March 3, 2026 and the partial eclipse of August 28, 2026. The June 26, 2029 eclipse stands out: at 1 hour 42 minutes, its totality is the longest in this list, and it is visible from the Americas.
7. A simple eclipse-night plan
- Check the date and your region against the table, then look up local times closer to the date.
- Find a spot with a clear view of the Moon's part of the sky, away from bright lights.
- Arrive before the partial phase begins to watch the first bite appear.
- Use binoculars during totality to see the color across the Moon's face.
8. Key takeaways
- Lunar eclipses happen only at full Moon and can be seen from the whole night side of Earth.
- There are three types: total, partial, and penumbral, and penumbral ones are easy to miss.
- The Moon turns red because sunlight filtered through Earth's atmosphere reaches it, and more dust or clouds make it redder.
- NASA says it is safe to watch every stage of a lunar eclipse with unprotected eyes, binoculars, or a telescope.
- NASA's predictions list total lunar eclipses on December 31, 2028, June 26, 2029, and December 20, 2029.