ALTON – Riverbend residents will have a chance to watch most of the moon slip into Earth’s shadow next week as a partial lunar eclipse crosses the night sky.
The eclipse will take place Thursday night, Aug. 27, into the early morning hours of Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, and will be visible across much of North and South America as well as portions of Europe and Africa. NASA lists the event as a partial lunar eclipse.
For viewers in Alton and the surrounding Riverbend area, the eclipse will begin at 8:23 p.m. Thursday, when the moon starts entering the lighter outer portion of Earth’s shadow, known as the penumbra.
That first stage may be difficult to notice. The show becomes much more obvious at 9:33 p.m., when the partial eclipse begins and Earth’s darker central shadow starts moving across the moon.
Eclipse Timeline for the Alton Area
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8:23 p.m. Thursday: Penumbral eclipse begins
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9:33 p.m.: Partial eclipse begins
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11:12 p.m.: Maximum eclipse
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12:51 a.m. Friday: Partial eclipse ends
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2:01 a.m.: Penumbral eclipse ends
The entire event will last about 5 hours and 38 minutes, although the most noticeable portion will be between 9:33 p.m. and 12:51 a.m.
Nearly All of the Moon Will Enter Earth’s Dark Shadow
This will not be a total lunar eclipse, but it should still be an impressive sight.
At maximum eclipse, NASA says about 93% of the moon’s diameter will be inside Earth’s dark central shadow, called the umbra. That means only a relatively small portion of the moon will remain outside the deepest part of the shadow.
The eclipsed portion of the moon may also take on a dark reddish, rusty or copper color.
That color occurs because sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is filtered and bent toward the moon. Blue wavelengths are scattered more strongly through the atmosphere, while more red and orange light can reach the lunar surface.
Where to Look
At the beginning of the eclipse, the moon will be relatively low in the east-southeastern sky.
By the time the partial eclipse begins at 9:33 p.m., it will be higher in the southeast. At maximum eclipse around 11:12 p.m., viewers should look toward the south-southeast, where the moon will be nearly 35 degrees above the horizon.
An open location with a clear view of the southeastern sky will provide the best view during the earlier stages.
No Eclipse Glasses Are Needed
Unlike a solar eclipse, there is no need for special eclipse glasses to watch a lunar eclipse.
NASA says lunar eclipses are safe to view directly with the naked eye. Binoculars or a small telescope can also be used safely and may provide a better look at Earth’s curved shadow moving across the lunar surface.
The only major factor that could interfere with viewing from the Riverbend will be the weather. Clouds could block some or all of the eclipse, so local sky conditions will become important as Aug. 27 approaches.
For those with clear skies, the best time to head outside will likely be between about 10 p.m. and midnight Thursday, with the eclipse reaching its maximum at 11:12 p.m.
