Eclipse Journey

Penumbral lunar eclipse

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 20 February 2027

The Moon passes only through Earth’s faint outer shadow (penumbra). Expect a subtle shading on the limb nearest the umbra, noticeable near maximum.

Greatest eclipse
23:12 UT
Umbral magnitude
-0.057
Partial phase
—
Totality
—
Saros
143
Visible from
Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia

Where the Moon is up

The shaded half of the globe has the Moon above the horizon at greatest eclipse; the dot is where it is directly overhead. Places near the edge see the Moon rise or set during the eclipse, which is why lunar eclipses are seen by billions of people at once.

Can I see it from here?

PhaseUTYour timeMoon altitude
Greatest eclipse23:12——

Umbral contact times are derived from NASA’s time of greatest eclipse and phase durations (partial —); they are accurate to about a minute. Moon altitude assumes the Moon sits opposite the Sun, which is true to within about a degree during an eclipse.

How to watch

  • No special equipment or glasses needed: a lunar eclipse is safe to look at.
  • Binoculars show the colour gradient across the shadow edge beautifully.
  • Leave the city lights if you can: the dimmer the sky, the richer the red.

Questions

What time is the lunar eclipse on 20 February 2027?

Greatest eclipse is at 23:12 UT. It is penumbral, so there is no umbral phase. Use the table on this page for your local time.

Where is it visible?

From anywhere the Moon is above the horizon at the time: NASA lists Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia. At greatest eclipse the Moon is overhead near 11°N, 15°E.

Is it safe to look at?

Yes. Lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with your eyes, binoculars or a telescope. No filter is needed.

Source: NASA/GSFC Lunar Eclipses 2021–2030 (F. Espenak). Times converted from TD to UT with ΔT ≈ 72 s.