People in Germany will have another chance to see an eclipse on 28 August 2026, just over two weeks after the solar eclipse on 12 August. This time, the Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow in a partial lunar eclipse. The event will take place around dawn, with the Moon appearing low on the western horizon. This means early risers will have the best chance of seeing it, while the view will become increasingly difficult as daylight begins.
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon. Earth’s shadow has two parts. The lighter outer part is called the penumbra, while the darker inner part is called the umbra. During this eclipse, the Moon first moves into the penumbra before entering the darker umbra.
The eclipse technically begins at around 3:23 a.m. CEST, when the Moon enters Earth’s outer shadow, or penumbra. This early stage is subtle and is not the part most people will notice. The clearly visible partial eclipse begins at 4:33 a.m. CEST, when the Moon enters the darker umbra. From this point, the shadow becomes much easier to observe.
The eclipse reaches its maximum at 6:13 a.m. CEST, when the greatest part of the Moon is inside the umbra. However, the Moon will be extremely low in the sky by then, and it will already have set in some parts of eastern Germany. The Moon leaves the Earth’s darkest shadow at 7:53 a.m. CEST. This final stage will not be visible from Germany because the Moon will have already set and daylight will have arrived.
Your location will make a difference. The far west of Germany has an advantage because the rising and setting times of the Sun and Moon are delayed by a little more than half an hour compared with the east. As a result, more of the eclipse will remain visible in the far west before the Moon disappears below the horizon. The House of Astronomy notes that the maximum eclipse occurs after moonset and sunrise in eastern Germany.
The eclipse will be low in the sky, so having an open view towards the west and southwestern horizon is important.
About 93% of the Moon will enter Earth’s umbra during the eclipse. Because a small portion of the Moon will remain bright, this will be a partial lunar eclipse rather than a total lunar eclipse. The part of the Moon inside the shadow may also take on a faint copper-red colour. According to the House of Astronomy, this effect might be visible at least in western Germany.
You will mainly need a clear sky and an unobstructed view of the southwestern horizon. As the eclipse progresses, the Moon will get lower while dawn brightens the sky, making it increasingly difficult to see. Binoculars can be helpful, particularly as the sky becomes brighter. The partially eclipsed Moon can also make an interesting photograph, especially when captured above the horizon with a suitable foreground object.
For people in Germany hoping to catch the eclipse, 4:33 a.m. CEST is the key time to remember. Find a location with a clear view towards the west and southwest, and be ready before dawn. People in the far west of Germany will have a better opportunity to see more of the eclipse because the Moon remains visible for longer before setting.
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