Partial lunar eclipse this Friday: What to look out for

Picture: Getty Images/ZHANPENG ZHANG

A must-see celestial event will take place this Friday, 28 August 2026, as the Moon will experience a partial lunar eclipse.

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A rare occurrence

This specific partial eclipse is rare, as about 90% of the Moon’s surface will be hidden by Earth’s dark central shadow. According to Space.com, this shadow is called an Umbra. This means that most of the Moon’s surface will take on a rusty red hue, with only a sliver of its illuminating quality visible.

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What time will the partial lunar eclipse occur?

People residing in the northern area of South Africa, Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape regions, can expect to see the full coverage of the eclipse from around 6.30pm to 6.50pm.

Those in the southern areas of the country, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern and Western Cape regions, can expect to see full coverage of the eclipse from around 6.50pm to 7.07pm.

What to look out for

The moon will be visible during the day, with citizens able to see a full face until the end of the day, when it will start taking on a red hue. This is usually called the Blood Moon, but this time it will only cover about 90% of the moon’s surface.

This rare occurrence will only happen again in December 2028.

How to see the partial lunar eclipse

There are a few ways to see the eclipse, the most accessible being with your eyes. The lunar eclipse is usually very visible depending on the weather because of its red hue. However, the optimal option is to use a telescope to see the moon at a clearer, brighter and more intimate scale.

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