Skywatchers across much of the U.S. got a look at a near-total lunar eclipse overnight Thursday into Friday, as the Earth's shadow covered almost all of the moon's surface.
About 96% of the lunar surface was obscured at its peak shortly after midnight ET Friday. That made it an unusually deep partial eclipse — just shy of the alignment needed for a total lunar eclipse.
Much of the moon appeared dark red or copper, with only a small portion remaining brightly lit. The reddish color occurs when sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere, which filters out more blue light while allowing more red and orange light to reach the moon.
Because the moon never passed completely into the umbra — the darkest part of Earth's shadow — it was not a total lunar eclipse, sometimes called a "blood moon."
The partial phase lasted more than three hours, while the eclipse as a whole ran for about five and a half hours, from the moon's first passage into the faint outer edge of Earth's shadow until it emerged again.
The Americas were in a prime position to see the eclipse. It was also visible from parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, where the moon set before the event had ended.
Friday's eclipse was the second lunar eclipse of 2026, following a total lunar eclipse in March. It came just over two weeks after a total solar eclipse swept across Greenland, Iceland and Spain, with a partial eclipse visible from parts of the U.S.
The next total lunar eclipse is expected on New Year's Eve 2028, with Asia and Australia best positioned to view it. The next one visible across North and South America will be in 2029, according to the Associated Press.
See photos of the near-total lunar eclipse from around the world below.
