PHOTOS: Rare lunar eclipse turns moon deep red, 96% covered

A spectacular near-total lunar eclipse captivated skywatchers across several continents, painting the Moon a deep red as 96% of its surface was obscured by Earth's shadow. The rare celestial event unfolded overnight Thursday into Friday, coinciding with the August Sturgeon Moon.

Viewers in the Americas, parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East were treated to a striking spectacle of the Moon appearing in reddish-copper hues. While the event closely resembled a total lunar eclipse, it was classified as partial because a small portion of the lunar surface remained outside Earth's darkest shadow, the umbra. At its peak, around midnight Eastern Time on Friday, approximately 96% of the Moon was hidden from direct sunlight.

The distinctive deep red and copper coloration observed during the eclipse is attributed to sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere filters out most of the blue light, allowing the red and orange wavelengths to penetrate and illuminate the lunar surface. This phenomenon created a dramatic visual display.

The partial phase of the eclipse extended for over three hours, with the entire event lasting approximately five and a half hours from the Moon's entry into Earth's outer shadow until its emergence. Photographers captured the eclipse over various landmarks and landscapes globally, including the United States, Turkey, Israel, Italy, Spain, Poland, Brazil, and Guatemala. This was the second lunar eclipse of 2026, following a total lunar eclipse in March, and the next total lunar eclipse is anticipated on New Year's Eve in 2028.