The UK will witness a partial lunar eclipse on August 28, 2026, with 93.91% obscuration. This event marks the last eclipse of 2026. Observers will need to stay up late or rise early, as the eclipse begins at 2:23am and reaches maximum coverage at 5:12am.
Eclipses in 2027
In 2027, there will be two penumbral lunar eclipses, on February 20-21 and August 17. These will be very faint to the naked eye. Astronomer Deborah Byrd of EarthSky.org explained: “There are three kinds of lunar eclipses: total, partial and penumbral. A penumbral eclipse is very subtle. At no time does a dark bite appear to be taken out of the Moon. Instead, at mid-eclipse, observant people will notice a shading on the Moon’s face.”
Additionally, a partial solar eclipse will occur on August 2, 2027, with only 27.64% to 44.23% obscuration visible in the UK, making it less dramatic than this year's event.
Next total solar eclipse in the UK
The next total solar eclipse visible in the UK will occur on September 23, 2090, 64 years from now. For those eager to see a total eclipse sooner, a holiday abroad may be necessary. In 2081, there will be a notable partial solar eclipse, with up to 99% of the sun covered in the UK.
Upcoming total lunar eclipses
The next total lunar eclipse visible in the UK will occur on December 31, 2028, with totality from 4:16pm to 5:27pm. This will be followed by two more total lunar eclipses in 2029, on June 26 and December 20. The June eclipse will reach totality between 3:31am and 5:13am, while the December one will be between 10:15pm and 11:08pm.
