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The partial lunar eclipse of August 2026 will cover 93% of the Moon with the Earth’s umbra according to the National Observatory (MCTI), leaving the satellite reddish in a phenomenon visible to the naked eye from any region of Brazil, being the last major lunar eclipse observable in the country until June 2029.
The biggest astronomical spectacle on the Brazilian calendar for 2026 takes place on the morning of August 28 and requires no ticket, no equipment, and can be watched from anywhere in the country. That night’s partial lunar eclipse will cover 93% of the Moon’s disk with the Earth’s umbra (dark shadow) according to the National Observatory, an institution linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI), a magnitude so close to a total eclipse that astronomer Dr. Josina Nascimento, from the Observatory itself, classified the phenomenon as “almost total.” “This eclipse will only be partial, but it will be almost total, as 93% of the Moon will enter the Earth’s dark shadow,” explained the astronomer in an interview published by the National Observatory on February 26, 2026.
For those who have never witnessed a lunar eclipse, the visual experience is different from what many imagine. The Moon does not disappear: it changes color. The part of the disk that enters the Earth’s umbra takes on a reddish or coppery hue, an effect produced by Rayleigh scattering, a phenomenon in which the Earth’s atmosphere filters out shorter wavelengths (blue and violet) of sunlight and allows only longer ones (red and orange) to reach the lunar surface. In practice, it’s as if the Moon were simultaneously illuminated by all the sunsets and sunrises of the entire planet, and the result is the famous “Blood Moon” that ancient civilizations interpreted as an omen and which modern science explains with optical physics.
Why this eclipse is special for those living in Brazil
The August 28 eclipse is not just another astronomical phenomenon: it is the last of great magnitude visible throughout Brazilian territory until almost the end of the decade. The next total lunar eclipse observable from Brazil will only happen in June 2029, and the lunar eclipses predicted for 2027 are all penumbral, a category in which the Moon only passes through the Earth’s lighter shadow and the darkening is almost imperceptible to the naked eye. In 2028, two partial eclipses will occur, but with much lower magnitudes: less than 3% and less than 33%, a brutal difference compared to the 93% of August 2026.
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The accessibility of this eclipse is another factor that makes it special. Unlike a solar eclipse, which requires specific protective glasses to avoid retinal damage and is only visible in a narrow geographical band, a lunar eclipse can be observed with the naked eye by anyone in any clear-sky location in the country, without ocular risk and without the need for a telescope. Binoculars and cameras enhance the experience but are optional, and the gradual progression of the eclipse over hours allows the observer to follow each stage without rush.
What happens to the Moon during the August 28 eclipse
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth positions itself between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the natural satellite. The alignment is only possible when the Moon is in its full phase and perfectly positioned in the orbital plane, which is why lunar eclipses do not happen during every full moon. In the August 28 eclipse, 93% of the lunar disk will plunge into the Earth’s umbra, the darkest region of the shadow, while the remaining strip will stay in the penumbra with reduced but still visible brightness.
The eclipse process is divided into stages that the observer can progressively follow. First, the Moon enters the penumbra, darkening subtly. Then it begins immersion in the umbra, when the color change becomes evident and the reddish hue appears at the edge of the disk. At the peak of the eclipse, only a thin strip of the Moon will remain illuminated while the remaining 93% will be covered by the Earth’s shadow, and the intensity of the red color will depend on the planet’s atmospheric conditions at that moment: more aerosols and volcanic dust in the atmosphere produce a darker or brown Moon, while a clean atmosphere results in a bright orange or copper tone.
Why the covered part of the Moon turns red during the eclipse
The explanation for the reddish color is one of the most elegant aspects of physics that the eclipse demonstrates. The Earth blocks direct sunlight, but part of the light still reaches the lunar surface after passing through the Earth’s atmosphere, a process in which Rayleigh scattering occurs: the atmosphere scatters the short wavelengths (blue and violet) and allows the passage of long wavelengths (red and orange), exactly the same phenomenon that produces the coloring of sunsets we see every day. The difference is that during the eclipse the Moon receives this light filtered by the entire extent of the Earth’s atmosphere, as if the entire ring of the planet’s horizon functions as a red filter.
The exact color the Moon will take on during the August eclipse cannot be predicted months in advance. The intensity depends on atmospheric variables at the time of the phenomenon: recent volcanic eruptions, large-scale forest fires, pollution, and the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere alter the filtering and can produce shades ranging from bright orange to almost invisible dark brown. Each eclipse is unique in this aspect, and the surprise about which shade of red the Moon will take on is part of the charm that motivates millions of people worldwide to look up on the night of the phenomenon.
How to observe the August 28 eclipse from Brazil
Preparing to watch the eclipse is simple and requires no investment. The observer needs to choose a location with an open sky and little obstruction from buildings or trees, avoid areas with intense light pollution like very dense urban centers, and check the weather forecast for their region in the days leading up to the eclipse, as cloudy skies are the only obstacle between the viewer and the phenomenon. No eye protection is needed because the light coming from the Moon is reflected and poses no risk to vision, unlike direct sunlight which makes a solar eclipse dangerous without proper equipment.
For those who wish to capture the eclipse in photography, a tripod and manual mode are recommended. The eclipsed Moon emits much less light than the normal full Moon, which requires longer exposures that handheld stabilization cannot maintain without shaking. If the sky is cloudy in your region, live broadcasts conducted by NASA, the National Observatory, and astronomy channels will be available throughout the duration of the eclipse, an alternative that ensures following even when the weather does not cooperate.
And you, do you plan to observe the August eclipse? Have you ever seen a Blood Moon? Leave your opinion in the comments.
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