Total Lunar Eclipse
December 31, 2028
● BLOOD MOON
A New Year’s Eve blood moon with 71 minutes of totality, visible across the Eastern Hemisphere. Visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Key Facts
Type
Total (Blood Moon)
Date (UTC)
December 31, 2028
Maximum (UTC)
16:52 UTC
Umbral Magnitude
1.2463
Peak Obscuration
100%
Saros Series
125
Global Timeline
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Penumbral eclipse begins | 14:04 UTC |
| Partial (umbral) eclipse begins | 15:08 UTC |
| Totality begins | 16:16 UTC |
| Maximum eclipse | 16:52 UTC |
| Totality ends | 17:28 UTC |
| Partial (umbral) eclipse ends | 18:36 UTC |
| Penumbral eclipse ends | 19:40 UTC |
What You'll See
This is a true blood moon: the Moon passes completely into Earth's umbra. During totality, the only light reaching the lunar surface is sunlight bent through Earth's atmosphere — the blue wavelengths scatter away and the Moon glows copper-red.
Where it's visible: Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. A lunar eclipse is visible from anywhere the Moon is above the horizon while it is in Earth's shadow — no equipment or eye protection needed. Check your exact local circumstances with the live visibility checker.
Photographing This Eclipse
- Use a tripod and a telephoto lens (200mm+) for a large lunar disk.
- Bracket exposures: the eclipsed portion is thousands of times dimmer than the sunlit sliver.
- During totality, try ISO 400–1600 at 1/4s–2s depending on aperture.
- Full guides: Fred Espenak's lunar eclipse photography guide and Sky at Night's how-to.