Blood moon, partial eclipse visible tonight in Washington
Aug 27, 2026, 3:44 PM | Updated: 3:45 pm
The blood moon rises during a total lunar eclipse. (Photo: Thomas Kronsteiner, Getty Images)
(Photo: Thomas Kronsteiner, Getty Images)
Tonight’s celestial event is being touted as the best lunar eclipse in North America until New Year’s Eve 2028, according to Space.com.
The partial eclipse will darken 96.2% of the lunar surface during its peak, as it passes through the Earth’s shadow on the opposite side from the Sun.
The eclipse begins when the moon enters Earth’s faint outer shadow at 6:23 p.m.
Things will get much more interesting at 7:33 p.m., when the partial eclipse begins, and Earth’s dark umbral shadow starts to creep across the lunar surface.
Maximum eclipse occurs at 9:12 p.m., when 96.2% of the moon will be immersed in Earth’s umbra.
The blood moon partial eclipse begins to return to normal at 10:51 p.m., with the penumbral eclipse concluding at midnight.
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What is a blood moon and how to watch it
The title blood moon refers to the dark red glow that is cast upon the moon’s surface during the eclipse.
Unlike a solar eclipse, you don’t need any type of safety equipment to view tonight’s show. But if you’re outdoors, you might need a blanket as temperatures will be in the low 60s.
Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Follow him on X. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.
