When Is the Next Lunar Eclipse?
Eclipses are among the most spectacular events in the night sky. OrbitalNodes.ai maintains a complete eclipse calendar through 2028, with live countdowns, visibility regions, and duration for every solar and lunar eclipse.
The next lunar eclipse is on 28 August 2026; the next solar eclipse is on 6 February 2027. As of 23 August 2026, the next eclipse is a Partial Lunar Eclipse on 28 August 2026, visible from E Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa — 5 days away, peaking at 04:12 UTC. The next solar eclipse is a Annular Solar Eclipse on 6 February 2027, visible from S America, W Africa, Antarctica. Lunar eclipses are visible from anywhere the Moon is above the horizon; solar eclipses require you to be inside the path of totality and to use certified eye protection.
Lunar eclipses turn the Moon a deep copper red as it passes through Earth’s shadow — the colour comes from sunlight bent through every sunrise and sunset on the planet at once.
NEXT UP — 12 AUGUST 2026
The next total solar eclipse is on Wednesday 12 August 2026, crossing western Iceland and northern Spain — the first over mainland Europe since 1999. Totality runs about 17:43–17:50 GMT in Iceland and 20:25–20:35 CEST in Spain, lasting 2m 13s at Látrabjarg, 1m 45s in León and 1m 43s in Burgos.
Full timings for every town in the path → — durations, Sun elevation and where the path actually falls.
UPCOMING ECLIPSES
ECLIPSE FAQ
Can I look at a lunar eclipse directly?
Yes — lunar eclipses are completely safe to view with your naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope. The Moon is only reflecting light, not emitting it, so there's no danger at any stage of a lunar eclipse.
Do I need eclipse glasses for a solar eclipse?
Yes — never look at a solar eclipse without ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses. The one exception is during the brief totality phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Sun's disc is completely covered — but this lasts only 1-7 minutes and you must put glasses back on the moment the Sun reappears.
Why does the Moon turn red during a lunar eclipse?
Earth's atmosphere acts like a lens, bending sunlight around the planet and into its shadow. Red wavelengths bend more than blue, so the light that reaches the Moon in Earth's shadow is deep red — the same effect that makes sunsets red. The colour can vary from bright orange to deep blood red depending on atmospheric conditions.
What's the difference between a total and annular solar eclipse?
In a total solar eclipse the Moon completely covers the Sun's disc, creating totality — a few minutes of near-darkness with the Sun's corona visible. In an annular eclipse the Moon is slightly further from Earth (at apogee) and appears smaller, leaving a bright "ring of fire" around the edges. Annular eclipses are more common but less spectacular.
How often do total solar eclipses happen?
Total solar eclipses happen roughly every 18 months somewhere on Earth, but any given location only gets one every 375 years on average. The August 2027 eclipse crossing Egypt is exceptional — over 6 minutes of totality, one of the longest this century.
Can I see satellites during an eclipse?
During a total solar eclipse the sky darkens enough to see bright satellites, planets, and even stars. The ISS passes over the eclipse path about every 90 minutes and occasionally transits the eclipsed Sun — a rare photographic opportunity. During a lunar eclipse, satellite viewing is excellent as the sky is otherwise dark.
Where is the best place to watch the August 2027 eclipse?
Egypt and Morocco offer the longest totality (over 6 minutes), excellent infrastructure, and reliably clear skies in August. Luxor and Aswan in Egypt sit near the centreline. Spain's earlier 2026 total eclipse is also accessible with up to 2 minutes 18 seconds of totality over the north coast.
What's the difference between a lunar eclipse and a new moon?
A new moon occurs every month when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun — but because the Moon's orbit is tilted 5° relative to Earth's, it usually passes above or below Earth's shadow. A lunar eclipse only happens at full moon when the geometry lines up precisely enough for the Moon to enter Earth's shadow.