Last eclipse of 2026 to occur on August 28

The last eclipse of the year will occur on August 28, the N.Tusi Shamakhi Astrophysics Observatory told Report.

This will be a partial lunar eclipse.

This means that the Earth's shadow will not completely cover the Moon. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon does not fully enter the point where the Earth's and Moon's orbital planes intersect. The plane of the Moon's orbit is inclined at an angle of only 5 degrees to the Earth's orbital plane. Since this angle is not very large, the Moon does not pass exactly along the line between the Earth and the Sun every month. Therefore, eclipses do not occur every month, but only when the Moon, Earth and Sun are in the appropriate configuration - aligned in a straight line or with only a slight deviation. A lunar eclipse can occur only during the full Moon phase.

The eclipse will begin at 05:23 am (GMT+4) on August 28 and end at 11:01 am. It will be visible in Europe, Africa, North and South America, as well as over the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. In Azerbaijan, civil twilight will have already begun at 05:35 am. Although the Moon will still be above the horizon, the sky will begin to brighten just 12 minutes after the eclipse starts, and this period will fall within the penumbral phase of the eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye and is perceived only as a slight decrease in the Moon's brightness.

None of the three eclipses that occurred earlier in 2026 - two solar and one lunar eclipse - were visible from Azerbaijan. In 2027, there will be five eclipses in total - two solar and three lunar. Of these, the penumbral lunar eclipse on February 21 and the total solar eclipse on August 2 will be observable from Azerbaijan. Since Azerbaijan will not fall within the path of totality during the solar eclipse, it will be observed from the country as a partial solar eclipse.