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Lunar eclipse 2026

2026 had two lunar eclipses: a total lunar eclipse on March 3 and a partial lunar eclipse on August 28. The one on August 28 could be seen from Germany, Austria and Switzerland in part, low on the horizon.

As of Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 13:00 UTC

Lunar eclipses of 2026 at a glance

All times in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). London: UTC in winter, UTC+1 in summer. New York: UTC−5 in winter, UTC−4 in summer.

DateKindMaximumGermany/Austria/Switzerland
Tue, Mar 3, 2026Total lunar eclipse11:34 UTCnot visible
Fri, Aug 28, 2026Partial lunar eclipse04:13 UTCpartly visible

Total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026

It cannot be seen from Germany, Austria or Switzerland: the Moon is below the horizon there during daytime.

It can be seen wherever the Moon is above the horizon at the maximum and it is dark, for example in Beijing, Tokyo, Perth, Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Mexico City.

Kind
Total lunar eclipse
Maximum
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 11:34 UTC
Umbral magnitude
1.151
Totality lasts
58 min
In the umbra for
3 h 27 min
In the penumbra for
5 h 39 min

Phases and the Moon's altitude

All times in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). London: UTC in winter, UTC+1 in summer. New York: UTC−5 in winter, UTC−4 in summer.

PhaseTimeBerlinViennaZurich
Penumbral eclipse begins08:44 UTCbelow the horizonbelow the horizonbelow the horizon
Partial eclipse begins09:50 UTCbelow the horizonbelow the horizonbelow the horizon
Totality begins11:05 UTCbelow the horizonbelow the horizonbelow the horizon
Maximum11:34 UTCbelow the horizonbelow the horizonbelow the horizon
Totality ends12:03 UTCbelow the horizonbelow the horizonbelow the horizon
Partial eclipse ends13:17 UTCbelow the horizonbelow the horizonbelow the horizon
Penumbral eclipse ends14:23 UTCbelow the horizonbelow the horizonbelow the horizon

Partial lunar eclipse on August 28, 2026

From Germany, Austria and Switzerland it is partly visible, low on the horizon. The Moon sets during the eclipse: Hamburg 04:29 UTC, Berlin 04:17 UTC, Cologne 04:47 UTC, Frankfurt 04:41 UTC, Munich 04:32 UTC, Vienna 04:12 UTC, Zurich 04:46 UTC.

It can be seen wherever the Moon is above the horizon at the maximum and it is dark, for example in Reykjavík, London, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Rome, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York, São Paulo, Buenos Aires.

Kind
Partial lunar eclipse
Maximum
Friday, August 28, 2026, 04:13 UTC
Umbral magnitude
0.930
In the umbra for
3 h 18 min
In the penumbra for
5 h 38 min

Phases and the Moon's altitude

All times in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). London: UTC in winter, UTC+1 in summer. New York: UTC−5 in winter, UTC−4 in summer.

PhaseTimeBerlinViennaZurich
Penumbral eclipse begins01:24 UTC20°22°26°
Partial eclipse begins02:34 UTC13°13°18°
Maximum04:13 UTC0°below the horizon5°
Partial eclipse ends05:52 UTCbelow the horizonbelow the horizonbelow the horizon
Penumbral eclipse ends07:02 UTCbelow the horizonbelow the horizonbelow the horizon

How we calculate

UmbraLux calculates every date and time on this page itself, with the astronomy library astronomy-engine – the same calculation the UmbraLux app uses for its charts. As usual in astrology, positions are measured in the tropical zodiac: the signs start at the vernal equinox and span 30° each.

For each eclipse we calculate the moment of greatest eclipse and the times when the Moon enters and leaves the Earth's penumbra and umbra, plus the Moon's altitude for every place named. Like NASA's catalogue, we enlarge the Earth's shadow for the atmosphere (Danjon's rule). The magnitude is the share of the Moon's diameter inside the umbra.

An automated test compares every eclipse of 2026 and 2027 with NASA's Five Millennium Catalog (Espenak and Meeus): kind and magnitude agree, the moment of greatest eclipse lies within 10 seconds, the length of the phases within 0.2 minutes. For future years every calculation estimates the Earth's rotation (ΔT); a few seconds depend on it.

How a lunar eclipse happens

A lunar eclipse happens only at full moon, when Sun, Earth and Moon line up almost exactly and the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. Because the Moon's orbit is tilted about 5° to the Earth's, the Moon usually passes above or below the shadow, which is why there is not an eclipse every month. Unlike a solar eclipse, it can be seen from everywhere the Moon is above the horizon.

Questions about lunar eclipses

Is there a lunar eclipse today?

There is no lunar eclipse today. The next lunar eclipse is on Saturday, February 20, 2027 (in 130 days): a penumbral lunar eclipse. From Germany, Austria and Switzerland it can be seen from beginning to end, weather permitting. In Berlin the Moon stands 47° high at the maximum. A penumbral eclipse is hard to notice with the naked eye; the Moon only dims slightly.

When can the next lunar eclipse be seen from Germany?

Until the end of 2027: February 20, 2027 (penumbral lunar eclipse).

Why does the Moon turn red in a lunar eclipse?

In the umbra, the only sunlight reaching the Moon has been bent through the Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere scatters the blue light away and lets the red through, as at sunset. How dark and how red the Moon turns depends on the state of the atmosphere.

What is a penumbral lunar eclipse?

The Moon only passes through the Earth's penumbra, where the Sun is only partly hidden. It dims very little, which is hard to see with the naked eye. It does not enter the umbra.

Do I need eye protection for a lunar eclipse?

No. A lunar eclipse is safe to watch with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

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