Next lunar eclipse
20 February 2027
Penumbral Visible from Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
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Greatest eclipse 23:12 UT
Next lunar eclipse and blood moon
Lunar eclipses are seen from the whole night side of Earth, and they are safe to watch with the naked eye. Here is the next one, the next total “blood moon”, and every lunar eclipse to 2030.
Next blood moon (total lunar eclipse)
31 December 2028
1h 11m of totality · Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific
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Lunar eclipse calendar to 2030
| Date | Type | Greatest (UT) | Totality | Partial phase | Visible from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 February 2027 | Penumbral | 23:12 | — | — | Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia |
| 18 July 2027 | Penumbral | 16:02 | — | — | e Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific |
| 17 August 2027 | Penumbral | 07:13 | — | — | Pacific, Americas |
| 12 January 2028 | Partial | 04:13 | — | 56m | Americas, Europe, Africa |
| 6 July 2028 | Partial | 18:19 | — | 2h 21m | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia |
| 31 December 2028 | Total | 16:52 | 1h 11m | 3h 29m | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific |
| 26 June 2029 | Total | 03:22 | 1h 42m | 3h 40m | Americas, Europe, Africa, Mid East |
| 20 December 2029 | Total | 22:42 | 54m | 3h 33m | Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia |
| 15 June 2030 | Partial | 18:33 | — | 2h 24m | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia |
| 9 December 2030 | Penumbral | 22:27 | — | — | Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia |
Source: NASA/GSFC, Lunar Eclipses 2021–2030. Each date links to local times and a visibility check for your city.
Why the Moon turns red
During totality no direct sunlight reaches the Moon. What does arrive has been filtered and bent through Earth’s atmosphere, which scatters blue light away and lets red through: the same effect that makes sunsets orange. How dark and red the Moon looks depends on how much dust and cloud is in our atmosphere at the time. The types of eclipses explainer lets you slide the Moon through Earth’s shadow.
Questions
When is the next lunar eclipse?
After the partial lunar eclipse of 28 August 2026, the next lunar eclipses are penumbral ones on 20 February, 18 July and 17 August 2027, followed by partial eclipses on 12 January and 6 July 2028. This page shows the next one automatically based on today’s date.
When is the next blood moon?
The next total lunar eclipse (blood moon) is on 31 December 2028, visible from Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, with 71 minutes of totality. It is followed by the long total eclipse of 26 June 2029, with 102 minutes of totality visible from the Americas, Europe and Africa (NASA/GSFC).
Is there a lunar eclipse tonight?
Check the countdown at the top of this page: it counts down to the next lunar eclipse in your own time zone. Lunar eclipses happen only at full moon, and only a few times a year.
Can you look at a lunar eclipse?
Yes. A lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. You are looking at the Moon in Earth’s shadow, not at the Sun.
What is the difference between a partial and a penumbral lunar eclipse?
In a partial eclipse part of the Moon enters Earth’s dark central shadow (umbra), producing a clear dark bite. In a penumbral eclipse the Moon only passes through the faint outer shadow; the dimming is subtle and often invisible to casual observers.