Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of February 20, 2027
- Type
- Penumbral lunar eclipse
- Peak (UTC)
- February 20, 2027, 23:12 UTC
- Umbral phase
- None; penumbra only
- Saros series
- 143
The night side of Earth facing the Moon sees it, centered on the Americas.
Honesty first: this is a penumbral eclipse, the Moon passing only through Earth's outer shadow. The dimming is so slight that most people looking straight at it would never notice. We list it for completeness, not as an observing event.
Global timeline (UTC)
A lunar eclipse happens at the same instant for everyone; only your clock and your Moon's position differ. Convert from UTC, or use the location panel below to check whether the Moon is up at each stage for you.
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Penumbral eclipse begins | 21:11 UTC |
| Maximum eclipse | 23:12 UTC |
| Penumbral eclipse ends | 01:13 UTC (Feb 21) |
What you will see from your location
Enter a location (or use your device's) and we check whether the Moon is above your horizon at each stage of the eclipse, all in your browser.
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What a penumbral lunar eclipse is
In a penumbral eclipse the Moon passes only through the penumbra, the pale outer fringe of Earth's shadow, and never touches the dark umbra. The result is a subtle dimming of one side of the Moon that is difficult to notice by eye. Astronomers track penumbral eclipses because they belong to the same Saros cycles as their dramatic siblings, but as a spectacle they rank near the bottom.
Frequently asked questions
When is the penumbral lunar eclipse of February 2027?
Greatest eclipse comes on February 20, 2027 at 23:12 UTC. What you see, and when, depends on where you stand; use the location panel on this page for your own local timeline.
Where will the February 2027 lunar eclipse be visible?
The night side of Earth facing the Moon sees it, centered on the Americas.
Is it safe to watch a lunar eclipse?
Completely. A lunar eclipse is just the full Moon passing through Earth's shadow; it needs no filters or equipment. Binoculars simply make it better.
What is a Saros series?
Eclipses repeat in families called Saros series: 6,585.3 days (about 18 years 11 days) after any eclipse, the Sun, Moon and lunar nodes return to nearly the same geometry and produce a near-copy shifted a third of the way around Earth. This eclipse belongs to Saros series 143. Our Saros cycle profile explains the whole mechanism.
Keep exploring: the Eclipse Explorer for any date and location, our Saros cycle profile for why eclipses repeat, and how eclipses work from first principles.