The best places in the U.S. to watch this month's stunning lunar eclipse

Stargazers across North America are in for a spectacular celestial show at the end of this month. On the night of August 27 into the morning of August 28, 2026, the full "Sturgeon Moon" will slip deep into Earth's shadow, creating the most impressive lunar eclipse anywhere in the world until New Year's Eve 2028.

When is the August 2026 lunar eclipse?

The eclipse takes place overnight on August 27–28, 2026. The peak of the eclipse lands at 12:12am ET on August 28.

What kind of lunar eclipse is happening in August 2026?

It is a deep partial lunar eclipse, with just over 96-percent of the Moon's disk passing into Earth's dark umbral shadow. Though technically not a total "blood moon," the Moon will dim dramatically and take on a coppery, rusty-orange color with only a tiny sliver remaining outside the umbra.

Where in the U.S. can you see the lunar eclipse?

The eclipse will be visible across the entire contiguous United States. Western states offer higher odds of clear skies, while the Eastern Seaboard enjoys ideal higher moon angles during peak shadow.

To pinpoint the best lunar eclipse viewing locations in the U.S., the research team at eSIM provider Holafly scored U.S. destinations based on clear-sky probability, lunar altitude, event duration and eclipse intensity.

Erie, Pennsylvania earned the number one ranking as the absolute best viewing location in the country. Erie combines an extensive visibility window with superior clear-sky odds and a comfortable Moon altitude of about 35 degrees when the eclipse peaks around 12:12am ET. Erie headlines a strong showing across the Eastern and Northeastern states—including Augusta, Portsmouth, Cleveland and others—offering some of the longest and highest views of the eclipse on Earth.

Best of all, lunar eclipses are completely safe to view directly with the naked eye—no special glasses required, though binoculars will amplify the stunning copper hues.

How long will the lunar eclipse last?

The entire event—covering both the subtle outer penumbral shade and the deep partial phase—will last 5 hours and 38 minutes.

The best lunar eclipse viewing spots in the U.S., according to Holafly

• Erie, Pennsylvania
• Augusta, Maine
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Manteo, North Carolina
• Lewiston, Maine
• Burlington, Vermont