Hamptons Lunar Eclipse 2026: When and Where to Watch the Moon Turn Red This Week

A deep partial lunar eclipse will put 96% of the moon in Earth’s shadow Thursday night into Friday morning. Here’s when to look up — and some of the best places to catch the celestial show across the Hamptons.

The Hamptons are getting another reason to look up.

A deep partial lunar eclipse will sweep across the night sky Thursday, Aug. 27, into the early hours of Friday, Aug. 28, with nearly the entire full moon slipping into Earth’s shadow.

And while it won’t technically be a total “blood moon,” it should come remarkably close.

At its peak, 96.2% of the moon’s surface will be covered by Earth’s dark inner shadow, potentially giving much of the moon a dramatic coppery or reddish glow. The eclipse will be visible from the Hamptons and across the New York area, weather permitting.

The entire celestial event stretches for more than five and a half hours, but you don’t need to stay up until 3 a.m. to see the best part. The moment to watch is around midnight, with maximum eclipse at 12:12 a.m. Friday.

When to watch the lunar eclipse in the Hamptons

Here’s the timeline for Thursday night into Friday morning, in Eastern Daylight Time:

9:23 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27: Penumbral eclipse begins. The moon enters the lighter outer portion of Earth’s shadow, so the change may initially be difficult to detect.

10:33 p.m.: Partial eclipse begins. This is when the show becomes much more noticeable as Earth’s darker shadow begins moving across the moon.

12:12 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28: Maximum eclipse. This is the big moment, when roughly 96% of the moon will be covered by Earth’s dark shadow.

1:51 a.m.: Partial eclipse ends.

3:01 a.m.: Penumbral eclipse ends, bringing the entire event to a close.

Unlike a solar eclipse, no protective glasses are needed to watch a lunar eclipse. Look directly at it, take photos or pull out binoculars or a telescope for a closer view.

Why will the moon turn red?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align, allowing Earth to cast its shadow across the moon.

But the moon doesn’t necessarily disappear.

Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is filtered and bent before reaching the lunar surface. Shorter blue wavelengths are scattered more readily, while longer red and orange wavelengths continue through the atmosphere and reach the moon.

Think of it as the colors of Earth’s sunrises and sunsets being projected onto the lunar surface.

That’s what creates the rusty red or copper color associated with a “blood moon.”

This one stops just short of totality. At maximum eclipse, 96.2% of the moon will be within Earth’s umbra, making it an unusually deep partial eclipse.

Where to watch the lunar eclipse in the Hamptons

You don’t need a telescope, an observatory or even a perfectly unobstructed horizon for this eclipse. What matters most is clear weather, a good view of the sky and as little artificial light as possible.

The moon will be in the southeastern sky as the partial eclipse begins, moving toward the south as it approaches maximum eclipse.

Some of the best viewing territory across the East End includes:

Montauk: Head away from the lights of downtown Montauk and look for a legal public viewing spot with a broad, dark sky. The eastern end of Long Island generally offers less light pollution than more developed areas farther west.

East Hampton and Amagansett: Oceanfront areas can offer expansive views of the night sky, but check local nighttime beach and parking regulations before heading out.

Sagaponack and Bridgehampton: The more open stretches away from village centers and commercial lighting can provide excellent sky visibility.

Southampton and Water Mill: Look for open areas away from Route 27 and village lighting, with a clear view toward the southeast and south.

Westhampton and Westhampton Beach: The western Hamptons should also have a full view of the eclipse, with darker areas near the ocean and bays offering better conditions than brightly lit commercial districts.

One important caveat: Don’t assume a beach, park or parking lot is open for public access after midnight. Many East End beaches and parks have nighttime parking or access restrictions, particularly during the summer season. Check local rules before making a special trip.

Of course, one of the easiest viewing spots may be your own backyard. If you have a reasonably dark view of the southern sky, you’re in business.

It’s also August’s full Sturgeon Moon

The eclipse coincides with August’s full moon, traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon.

The name has been associated with the time of year when lake sturgeon were historically abundant and more readily caught in parts of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. Other traditional names have been used for the August full moon by different Indigenous cultures.

This month’s full moon comes with considerably more spark: Earth will take a bite out of nearly all of it.

The Spark takeaway

You don’t need to commit to the full five-hour celestial marathon.

For the best combination of drama and a semi-reasonable bedtime, head outside between about 11:30 p.m. Thursday and 12:45 a.m. Friday, with maximum eclipse arriving at 12:12 a.m.

Find the darkest sky you can, look south and hope the clouds stay out of the way.

It’s.a good excuse to stay up past midnight. No party dress or fancy attire needed.

Angela LaGreca

Editor, Co-Founder/Publisher

Angela LaGreca, Editor-in-chief and co-Founder/Publisher of Spark Hamptons, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, writer and comedian/host. Her TV credits include NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “The View,” and, most recently, the primetime cable news program “Cuomo” on NewsNation. On the East End, she was the Creative Director at LTV, VP Features/Events/Photo Editor at Dan’s Papers, and has performed at Guild Hall, Bay Street Theater and the WHBPAC. Her publishing career began at Modern Photography, where she was managing editor. LaGreca lives in Manhattan and East Hampton and can be reached at angelatvmedia@gmail.com and angela@sparkhamptons.com .