Partial Lunar Eclipse Stuns Skywatchers With an ‘Almost Blood Moon’: Best Photos From Around the World
A spectacular partial lunar eclipse transformed the full moon into a dramatic reddish-orange spectacle overnight, stunning skywatchers across several parts of the world and producing a collection of striking photographs.
The celestial event unfolded on the night of August 27 into August 28, 2026, as the Moon passed through Earth’s shadow. Although the event was technically a partial lunar eclipse rather than a total eclipse, as much as 96% of the Moon’s disk was covered by Earth’s darkest shadow, known as the umbra. The result was an “almost blood moon” appearance that made the event particularly impressive.
Photographers and amateur astronomers captured images of the eclipse from North and South America, Europe, Africa and other regions where the event was visible.
The August full moon, traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon, provided an especially dramatic backdrop as Earth’s shadow gradually moved across its surface.
During a lunar eclipse, Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon. Instead of sunlight reaching the Moon directly, Earth’s shadow falls across the lunar surface. Some sunlight is refracted through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the Moon, particularly at red and orange wavelengths.
That atmospheric filtering is responsible for the reddish coloration associated with blood moons.
In this case, the Moon did not become completely covered by Earth’s umbra. A small portion remained illuminated by direct sunlight, preventing the event from becoming a total lunar eclipse.
That narrow difference nevertheless produced a remarkable visual effect.
At maximum eclipse, only a small bright section of the lunar surface remained outside the deepest part of Earth’s shadow. The rest of the Moon appeared dark red, coppery or orange depending on atmospheric conditions and the location from which it was observed.
The event was visible across a broad section of the world.
Observers in the Americas were able to see much of the eclipse during nighttime hours, while people in Europe witnessed the event during the early morning. Parts of Africa and western Asia also had opportunities to watch portions of the eclipse.
The eclipse lasted several hours when the penumbral and partial phases were included. The most dramatic portion, however, occurred when the Moon was deepest inside Earth’s umbral shadow.
That was the moment photographers were waiting for.
Images from around the world showed the Moon hanging above city skylines, historic landmarks, mountains and rural landscapes.
One striking photograph captured the eclipsed Moon above the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, with the famous ancient monument illuminated below it. Other photographers created composite images showing the Moon’s gradual transformation as Earth’s shadow moved across the lunar disk.
In Hungary, photographer Robert Nemeti captured the beginning of the partial phase from the village of Zsujta, documenting the moment Earth’s shadow appeared to take its first “bite” from the Moon.
Photographers in Italy, the United States and other countries also documented the progression of the eclipse.
Some images emphasized the Moon itself, using telephoto lenses to capture its surface details. Others placed the Moon within larger landscapes, showing how the unusual celestial event appeared from different environments.
The event was particularly attractive to astrophotographers because of the contrast between the remaining bright portion of the Moon and the much darker reddish section.
Capturing that contrast can be challenging because the illuminated portion is dramatically brighter than the eclipsed area.
Photographers therefore often have to adjust exposure settings as the eclipse progresses. Professional cameras with telephoto lenses can capture detailed images of lunar craters, while smartphones can produce impressive results when paired with stable supports and clear skies.
The partial lunar eclipse was also notable because of how close it came to becoming a total eclipse.
More than 96% of the Moon entered Earth’s umbra, leaving only a small sliver outside the darkest shadow. Astronomers therefore described the event as a very deep partial eclipse.
That distinction matters because a total lunar eclipse requires the entire lunar disk to pass into Earth’s umbra.
Since a small portion of the Moon remained outside the shadow, the August 2026 event narrowly missed totality.
Nevertheless, the visual difference was difficult to notice from some locations.
The deep red coloration made the Moon resemble the traditional blood moon associated with total lunar eclipses. For many casual observers, the spectacle looked almost identical to a total eclipse except for the small bright portion that remained visible.
Scientists and astronomy organizations emphasized that lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye.
Unlike solar eclipses, which require proper eye protection when viewing the Sun, lunar eclipses can be observed directly without specialized protective glasses.
Binoculars and telescopes can make the experience even more impressive by revealing details on the lunar surface.
The eclipse also provided an opportunity for people who do not normally follow astronomy to experience a major celestial event.
Social media was quickly filled with photographs and videos showing the changing Moon, with images from different countries highlighting the event’s global reach.
The photographs also demonstrated how dramatically the Moon’s appearance can change during an eclipse.
At the beginning of the event, the full Moon appeared bright and familiar. As Earth’s shadow advanced, a dark section gradually expanded across the lunar surface. Near maximum eclipse, most of the Moon became a deep copper-red color.
Eventually, the shadow began to retreat and the bright full Moon gradually returned.
For skywatchers, the event was especially memorable because of its rarity. It was the deepest lunar eclipse visible around the world until a future major eclipse later in the decade, making the August 2026 event a significant opportunity for photographers and astronomy enthusiasts.
The eclipse also followed a total solar eclipse earlier in August, giving skywatchers an unusually active month of celestial events.
As the final photographs emerged, they offered different perspectives on the same astronomical phenomenon.
Some images captured the Moon alone against a dark sky. Others showed it above famous buildings and landscapes. Composite photographs documented the entire progression of Earth’s shadow across the lunar disk.
Together, the images revealed why the partial lunar eclipse attracted so much attention.
It may not have technically been a blood moon, but with almost the entire Moon submerged in Earth’s shadow and much of its surface glowing red, the distinction was largely academic for many observers.
The August 27-28 eclipse provided a spectacular reminder of the mechanics of the solar system and the beauty that can emerge when Earth, the Sun and Moon align.
For millions of skywatchers, the result was an unforgettable night beneath an “almost blood moon.”
And for photographers, it produced some of the most striking lunar images of 2026 so far.
About the Author
