A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth and moon are exactly in line. The full moon then passes through the Earth’s umbra and is eclipsed. Unlike a solar eclipse, the moon does not simply become dark: Because the Earth’s atmosphere scatters a small part of the sunlight into its shadow, the moon turns reddish during a total and a very deep partial lunar eclipse.
When and where can the lunar eclipse be seen?
Such a partial lunar eclipse can be seen tomorrow, August 28th, shortly before sunrise. The clearly visible part of the lunar eclipse begins around 4:30 a.m. when the full moon enters the Earth’s dark umbra. Over the next two hours, the bright lunar disk will darken more and more until the maximum eclipse is reached at around 6:13 a.m. At this point, around 93 percent of the moon’s disk will be darkened.
Process of the partial lunar eclipse on August 28, 2026 — © Association of Sternfreunde eV
However: Similar to the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, the celestial spectacle takes place low on the western horizon. A clear view of the horizon is therefore necessary to observe the lunar eclipse. Anyone who had good visibility during the solar eclipse two weeks ago can also see the lunar eclipse from the same location. However, not the entire lunar eclipse is visible here in Germany: the earth’s satellite sets during this event.
Cut off and no good weather prospects
“Unfortunately, we cannot follow the cosmic shadow play completely. On the one hand, the moon is already very low on the horizon during its greatest eclipse at 6:13 a.m. – in Hamburg it sets at 6:29 a.m.. On the other hand, the bright dawn thwarts our plans,” explains Björn Voss, director of the Hamburg Planetarium. The moon sets earlier in eastern Germany, meaning the maximum eclipse can no longer be seen there. In West Germany, however, the moon sets around 15 minutes later than in Hamburg.
The prerequisite for the celestial spectacle, however, is that the weather cooperates – but this is only the case in a few parts of Germany: early Friday morning there will be clouds and rain in most parts of the country, this applies especially to western Germany. There are slightly better chances of a clear view in the outer east. There the eclipsed moon could at least be visible in gaps in the clouds.
The next total lunar eclipse will not occur until 2028
By the way, it is no coincidence that the current lunar eclipse takes place so soon after the solar eclipse on August 12th: solar and lunar eclipses often occur in pairs. This is because the moon crosses exactly the Earth-Sun line during the new moon and full moon. As a result, as seen from us, it can obscure the sun or pass right through the earth’s umbra. However, the events associated with such an “eclipse season” are rarely visible from the same area of the earth – this is the case this time.
We won’t experience the next total lunar eclipse in Germany until New Year’s Eve 2028. Before that, there will be a barely visible penumbral eclipse at the beginning of 2027 and a partial lunar eclipse at the beginning of 2028. During the latter, the moon will only touch a small part of the earth’s umbra and will therefore only be slightly eclipsed.
Source: House of Astronomy Heidelberg, Sky & Telescope, Planetarium Hamburg