Lunar Eclipse: Meaning, Types and the Next Dates
By KosmoHow Kosmo makes its readings
A lunar eclipse happens when Earth lines up between the Sun and a full Moon and Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon. Only a total lunar eclipse turns the whole Moon reddish; a partial eclipse takes a dark bite out of it, and a penumbral eclipse only dims it slightly. All three lunar eclipses of 2027 are penumbral, on 20 February, 18 July and 17 August, so expect subtle shading at most, not a red Moon.
Earth’s shadow has two parts
Like every shadow cast by sunlight, Earth’s has a dark core, the umbra, and a pale outer fringe, the penumbra. The type of eclipse depends on which part the Moon passes through. Because the Moon is simply moving through Earth’s shadow, anyone on the night side of the planet with the Moon above the horizon can watch the same eclipse at the same moment, which means each lunar eclipse can be seen from about half of Earth. It is safe to look at with your eyes, binoculars or a telescope.
Total, partial and penumbral
| Type | Shadow involved | What you can expect to see | Reddish Moon? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | The whole Moon is inside the umbra | The Moon dims and usually glows orange to red | Yes |
| Partial | Part of the Moon enters the umbra | A dark bite grows and then shrinks while the rest stays bright | Not across the whole Moon |
| Penumbral | The Moon passes only through the penumbra | A slight greying that is often hard to notice | No |
Why a total eclipse turns the Moon red
Even inside the umbra, some sunlight still reaches the Moon after passing through Earth’s atmosphere. Blue light scatters away on the way, while orange and red light travel on, the same reason sunsets look red. That filtered light gives the totally eclipsed Moon its colour, and the more dust or cloud in our atmosphere, the redder or darker it can look. A penumbral eclipse never reaches this stage, which is why the popular name blood Moon applies only to total eclipses.
Why there isn’t one every full Moon
The Moon’s orbit is tilted by about five degrees, so at most full Moons it passes just above or below Earth’s shadow. Eclipses happen only when a full Moon falls near the points where the two orbits cross. That is also why lunar and solar eclipses come in pairs about two weeks apart: in 2027 the annular solar eclipse of 6 February is followed by the lunar eclipse of 20 February, and the total solar eclipse of 2 August sits between the lunar eclipses of 18 July and 17 August.
The three lunar eclipses of 2027
| Greatest eclipse | Penumbral phase (UT) | Penumbral magnitude | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2027, 23:13 UTC | 21:12 to 01:13 (next day) | 0.927 | The deepest of the three: a faint shading on one side of the Moon may be noticeable around greatest eclipse |
| Jul 18, 2027, 16:03 UTC | 15:57 to 16:09 | 0.0014 | The smallest penumbral eclipse of the century: the Moon only grazes the shadow for about 12 minutes, so no change can be seen |
| Aug 17, 2027, 07:14 UTC | 05:24 to 09:03 | 0.546 | Faint at best; many people will notice no difference |
The penumbral magnitude is the fraction of the Moon’s width that enters the penumbra, so a figure close to 1 means a deeper eclipse. NASA lists the February eclipse as visible from the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, and the August eclipse from the Americas, West Africa, parts of Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, eastern Russia and Southeast Asia. In theory the July eclipse belongs to the night side centred on Western Australia, but it is too slight to see. Check NASA’s maps, linked below, for your region; Kosmo does not calculate visibility for your location.
A full Moon and an eclipse are not the same moment. The U.S. Naval Observatory puts the February full Moon at 23:23 UTC on 20 February, while NASA gives greatest eclipse at 23:13 UT. The phase is a moment of alignment in longitude; the eclipse depends on how close the Moon passes to the centre of Earth’s shadow.
Lunar eclipses in astrology
This is optional symbolism, separate from the astronomy above. Astrologers read a lunar eclipse as an intensified full Moon and traditionally link it with endings, release and emotional clarity in the area of the chart where it falls. In 2027 the eclipsed Moon sits at about 2 degrees Virgo on 20 February, 26 degrees Capricorn on 18 July and 24 degrees Aquarius on 17 August. NASA does not endorse astrological meanings, and no eclipse can cause a breakup, a meeting or any other personal event.
Common questions
Is it safe to look at a lunar eclipse?
Yes. You are looking at the Moon, not the Sun, so no special glasses are needed.
Will the Moon turn red in 2027?
No. All three lunar eclipses of 2027 are penumbral, and only a total lunar eclipse produces the reddish Moon.
Why did I see nothing during a penumbral eclipse?
The penumbra is faint, and the eyes adjust to slow changes in brightness. Shallow penumbral eclipses often look like an ordinary full Moon.
For every 2027 eclipse in one table, see the eclipse calendar 2027 guide; for the shadow of the Moon on Earth, read the solar eclipse guide.
Sources
- NASA — Eclipses during 2027
- NASA — Catalogue of lunar eclipses, 2001 to 2100
- NASA — Future eclipses
- NASA — The Moon and eclipses
- U.S. Naval Observatory — Phases of the Moon 2027
- NASA — Visibility map of the penumbral lunar eclipse of 20 February 2027
- NASA — Visibility map of the penumbral lunar eclipse of 18 July 2027
- NASA — Visibility map of the penumbral lunar eclipse of 17 August 2027