Near-Total Lunar Eclipse Masks 96% of Moon Over Hawaii

Q: With next week's lunar eclipse reaching 96% coverage, what eerie visual phenomenon will observers witness as the Sturgeon Moon turns coppery red?

Observers will see the Sturgeon Moon take on an almost “blood moon” appearance: most of the lunar disk will glow coppery red while only a thin bright, silvery-white sliver remains along one edge. That effect happens because about 96% of the moon will be inside Earth’s dark umbral shadow at maximum eclipse. Although it will fall just short of totality, the shadowed portion is expected to turn reddish or coppery as sunlight filtered through Earth’s atmosphere bends onto the moon’s surface, much like the red colors seen at sunrise and sunset. Skywatchers should also expect the eclipse to progress visibly. As the partial phase begins, it will look as though a dark bite has been taken out of the moon. That darkness will slowly spread until nearly the entire moon is submerged, leaving the eerie contrast of a red lunar face and a narrow bright rim. In short, the striking phenomenon will be a near-total lunar eclipse producing a copper-red moon with a thin unshadowed crescent still shining.

Q: Why is the upcoming August 27 eclipse considered the most impressive lunar spectacle until 2028 despite falling just short of totality?

It is considered the standout lunar event until 2028 because it will be an unusually deep partial eclipse that looks almost total. On Aug. 27–28, 2026, about 96% of the Moon will pass into Earth’s dark umbra, leaving only a thin sunlit sliver. That means most of the lunar disk should dim dramatically and take on the coppery-red coloring commonly associated with a “blood moon,” even though it technically falls short of totality. What makes it especially notable is the eclipse calendar that follows. Astronomy coverage describes it as the deepest partial lunar eclipse since September 2024, and there will be no more visually stronger lunar eclipse until the total lunar eclipse of Dec. 31, 2028. The next partial eclipse after it, in January 2028, will be very shallow, with only a small fraction of the Moon entering the umbra, so it will not offer the same spectacle. Its broad visibility and long duration add to its importance. The eclipse will be visible across North and South America, Europe and Africa, with the best views in the Americas, where the full event will be seen overnight. It will last about 5 hours and 38 minutes overall, including more than three hours of partial eclipse, giving observers ample time to watch Earth’s shadow move across the Moon. So while it is not a true total “blood moon,” its depth, color, duration and wide visibility make it the most impressive lunar show on the calendar until late 2028.

Q: As the Perseids fade, what hidden cosmic details can you spot when the crescent Moon aligns with Venus and Spica this week?

The best “hidden” detail to look for is earthshine on the crescent Moon — the faint glow on the Moon’s dark side caused by sunlight reflected off Earth. It is visible to the naked eye from a dark site and stands out even better in binoculars as the Moon lines up with Venus and Spica after sunset. This pairing also reveals a useful sky geometry lesson. Venus, the Moon and Spica all lie close to the ecliptic, the Sun’s apparent path across the sky, which is why they seem to form a loose line in twilight. Spica is especially helpful as a reference star because it often appears near the Moon and planets for that reason. Venus itself offers another subtle target. It is the brightest object in the grouping, but through a small telescope it is not a full disk — it appears as a crescent, roughly 45% illuminated this month. That phase is one of the more striking details casual observers often miss. Spica, though less flashy, is worth noting as a true star beside a planet. Its steady blue-white light contrasts with Venus’s intense brilliance. In the following nights, the Moon’s shift toward Antares adds a color contrast as well, with Antares showing a distinctly reddish hue. Away from the trio, the fading Perseids may still produce a few meteors after midnight, but the broader prize remains the Milky Way, which is now well placed across dark Northern Hemisphere skies.

3 articles · Updated · Hawaii News Now · Aug 28

A near-total lunar eclipse covered 96% of the moon Thursday night, with Hawaii viewers catching only the event’s final phase as Earth’s shadow began moving away.
Honolulu-area stargazers gathered at spots including Lanai Lookout and Waikele, where some used personal telescopes and sought darker skies to improve visibility.
The eclipse occurred as Earth passed between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow across the lunar surface.
This was 2026’s second lunar eclipse and the fourth overall, with a complete lunar blackout expected on New Year’s Eve 2028.