Updated

Updated · CNET · Aug 4

Partial Lunar Eclipse to Cover Up to 96% of Moon Over North America on Aug. 27-28

Updated

Updated · CNET · Aug 4

Partial Lunar Eclipse to Cover Up to 96% of Moon Over North America on Aug. 27-28

Q: Will the blinding four percent sliver of the August 2026 Sturgeon Moon wash out its rare, blood-red glow for eager skywatchers?

No. The bright 4% sliver should not erase the eclipse’s red glow, though it will keep the event from looking as dark and uniformly crimson as a true total “blood moon.” At maximum on Aug. 27–28, about 93% of the Moon’s diameter and roughly 96% of its visible face will be inside Earth’s umbra, the dark inner shadow. That is deep enough for most of the lunar disk to turn coppery red or reddish-orange, because sunlight filtered through Earth’s atmosphere bends into the shadow and leaves mostly red wavelengths illuminating the Moon. The remaining sunlit crescent will be noticeably bright by contrast, especially through binoculars or a telescope, and it may make the eclipse seem less dramatic than a total lunar eclipse. But experts and eclipse guides describe this event as an “almost blood moon” precisely because so much of the Moon will still glow red while only a thin bright edge remains. For naked-eye viewers, the red portion should still be obvious under clear, dark skies, particularly once the Moon climbs higher and is less affected by haze near the horizon. In cities or bright twilight, the lit sliver may compete more strongly with the dimmer eclipsed section. So skywatchers should expect a striking split effect: one dazzling silver-white rim and a much larger lantern-like disk glowing deep red. That contrast is part of what may make this rare deep partial eclipse especially memorable, not washed out.

Q: What ancient methods did indigenous cultures use to predict the elusive Mountain Shadows Moon long before modern astronomy apps existed?

Indigenous cultures generally did not “predict” a moon like the Mountain Shadows Moon with calculations in the modern sense; they anticipated it through long-term skywatching and seasonal calendars built from repeated observation. Across many Native communities, timekeeping was tied to the lunar cycle rather than fixed calendar months. Elders tracked the sequence of new and full moons from one winter to the next, knew there were usually 12 lunar cycles in a year, and sometimes inserted a 13th “lost moon” to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons. Moon names such as Sturgeon Moon, Wild Rice Moon or Mountain Shadows Moon reflected what was happening on the land at that time — fish runs, berry ripening, rice harvests, changing light, or lengthening shadows. Those predictions came from watching more than the moon itself. Communities used recurring environmental markers — the ripening of plants, animal behavior, river and lake conditions, and the timing of harvests — alongside the moon’s rising point, phase, and relation to prominent stars. Bright stars and asterisms served as seasonal markers, helping indicate when a particular lunar month was approaching. The method was oral, local and cumulative. Knowledge was preserved in language, ceremony and storytelling, then refined over generations. So before apps like Stellarium or SkySafari, Indigenous observers relied on a sophisticated system of naked-eye astronomy combined with ecological knowledge specific to their region.

3 articles · Updated · CNET · Aug 4

A partial lunar eclipse will span 9:23 p.m. ET on Aug. 27 to 3:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 28, with 93% to 96% of the moon slipping into Earth’s shadow.
North and South America, Africa and Europe will see at least part of the event, with the eastern U.S. and eastern Midwest expected to get the clearest views.
NASA says the shadowed portion should take on a rusty copper tint while a thin bright sliver remains, making the Sturgeon Moon look close to a blood moon without becoming a total eclipse.
Unlike a solar eclipse, the lunar event is safe to watch with the naked eye, though binoculars or a telescope will sharpen the view.
The eclipse caps an unusually busy August sky calendar that also includes the Perseids, a planet parade, a solar eclipse and strong evening visibility for Venus.