Total lunar eclipse of December 31, 2028: a Blue Moon that turns red on New Year's Eve.
The last full moon of 2028 is the second full moon of December, which makes it a Blue Moon, and it passes straight through Earth's shadow, which makes it a total lunar eclipse. Totality runs 1 hour 12 minutes, from 16:16 to 17:28 UTC on December 31, with greatest eclipse at 16:52 UTC. Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia see it; the Americas miss it, with the Moon below the horizon. Unlike a solar eclipse it needs no glasses, no travel, and no exact spot, only a clear sky and a view of the Moon. This page gives the contact times, who sees what, and why the Moon goes red.
What time is the eclipse?
| Stage | UTC, December 31, 2028 | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Penumbral eclipse begins | 14:03 | Nothing yet; a faint shading develops on the Moon's eastern edge over the next hour |
| Partial eclipse begins | 15:07 | A dark bite appears and grows across the disc |
| Totality begins | 16:16 | The whole disc is inside the umbra and turns copper to red |
| Greatest eclipse | 16:52 | Deepest color; umbral magnitude 1.246 |
| Totality ends | 17:28 | A bright edge returns on the eastern limb |
| Partial eclipse ends | 18:37 | The umbra leaves the disc |
| Penumbral eclipse ends | 19:40 | Full brightness |
Times from the NASA Goddard eclipse catalog and EclipseWise, agreeing within about 30 seconds. Convert to your zone: 16:52 UTC is 17:52 in the UK, 18:52 in Central Europe, 19:52 in Cairo and Johannesburg, 22:22 in Delhi, 00:52 on January 1 in Beijing and Perth, 01:52 in Tokyo, and 03:52 on January 1 in Sydney.
Where is the eclipse visible?
Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa east of about Nigeria, all of Asia, and Australia see the entire eclipse with the Moon well up in the sky. Western Europe and West Africa see the Moon rise already in eclipse: the full moon rises at dusk, so in Britain, France, and Spain totality begins with the Moon low over the eastern horizon, which makes for striking photographs if that horizon is clear. The far east of Asia and the western Pacific see the end of the eclipse as the Moon sets. North and South America miss it: the Moon sets over the western United States and the eastern Pacific at dawn on the 31st during the first penumbral stage, which is not visible to the eye.
Why is it a Blue Moon and a blood moon at once?
A Blue Moon, in the common meaning, is the second full moon inside one calendar month. December 2028 has a full moon on December 2 at 01:40 UTC and another on December 31 at 16:48 UTC, so the New Year's Eve moon takes the name. A blood moon is the popular name for a total lunar eclipse, because the Moon inside Earth's shadow is lit only by sunlight bent through Earth's atmosphere, which filters out the blue and leaves a deep red or copper glow. The two names describe different things, a calendar accident and an alignment, and they happen to coincide here. The Moon is not blue at any point; it is red for 72 minutes.
How dark and how red will it get?
The umbral magnitude of 1.246 means the Moon passes well inside the umbra but not through its center, so one limb stays closer to the shadow's edge and appears brighter and more orange while the other goes deep red or brown. Totality of 72 minutes is a comfortable length, long enough to watch the color shift as the Moon moves across the shadow. How dark the disc actually gets depends on the state of Earth's atmosphere on the night: a recent major volcanic eruption can dim a lunar eclipse to near invisibility, while a clear stratosphere leaves it bright copper. That cannot be predicted years ahead.
What are the other lunar eclipses of 2028?
Two partials, both shallow. On January 12 at 04:13 UTC the Wolf Moon, also a supermoon, dips about 7 percent of its diameter into the umbra for a 56-minute partial phase visible from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. On July 6 at 18:20 UTC the Buck Moon goes about 39 percent into the umbra for 2 hours 22 minutes, visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. December 31 is the only total lunar eclipse of 2028 and the first anywhere since March 3, 2026.
When is the next total lunar eclipse?
Six months later. The total lunar eclipse of June 26, 2029 is the deepest and longest of the decade, with 1 hour 42 minutes of totality for the Americas, Europe, and Africa, and the December 20, 2029 eclipse follows with 54 minutes. 2028 to 2029 therefore delivers three total lunar eclipses in twelve months.
See tonight's moon on the dashboard
Quick answers.
What time is the December 31, 2028 lunar eclipse?
Totality runs from 16:16 to 17:28 UTC, with greatest eclipse at 16:52 UTC. That is early evening in Europe and Africa and the small hours of January 1 in eastern Asia and Australia.
Can I see it from the United States?
No. The Moon is below the horizon for North and South America during the eclipse. The next total lunar eclipse for the Americas is June 26, 2029.
Is it really a Blue Moon?
Yes, by the common definition: December 2028 has full moons on December 2 and December 31, and the second one is the Blue Moon. It will look red, not blue, during totality.