Updated Aug. 14, 2026.
The partial phase runs from 9:33 p.m. to 12:51 a.m. and peaks at 11:12 p.m. Mostly clear skies are forecast for Omaha.
Updated Aug. 26, 2026.
By Hola Nebraska
OMAHA, Nebraska — A deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible from Omaha on Thursday night, Aug. 27, and during the early hours of Friday, Aug. 28. The partial phase begins at 9:33 p.m. and reaches maximum at 11:12 p.m. Central Daylight Time.
At maximum, 96.3% of the Moon’s disk will be inside Earth’s dark central shadow. Only a narrow portion will remain directly illuminated by the Sun.
The National Weather Service forecasts mostly clear skies over Omaha on Thursday night, with calm wind and a low temperature near 65 degrees. The forecast was updated at 11:31 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26.
The complete eclipse lasts five hours and 38 minutes, although its opening and closing penumbral stages will be more difficult to notice.
The partial eclipse begins at 9:33 p.m. in Omaha
The eclipse begins when the Moon enters the lighter outer portion of Earth’s shadow. The more noticeable partial phase starts 70 minutes later:
- Penumbral eclipse begins: 8:23 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27.
- Partial eclipse begins: 9:33 p.m.
- Maximum eclipse: 11:12 p.m.
- Partial eclipse ends: 12:51 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28.
- Penumbral eclipse ends: 2:01 a.m.
All times are Central Daylight Time. The complete eclipse timeline for Omaha includes the Moon’s approximate direction and altitude during every stage.
The penumbral phase may be difficult to see because the Moon will initially lose only a small amount of brightness. The eclipse becomes more apparent after 9:33 p.m., when a dark, curved section of Earth’s shadow begins moving across the lunar surface.
Mostly clear skies are forecast for Thursday night
Omaha’s Thursday night forecast calls for mostly clear skies, calm wind and a low near 65 degrees. No rain appears in the current nighttime forecast.
Those conditions would allow the main stages of the eclipse to remain visible. Cloud coverage can still change before Thursday night, and the National Weather Service forecast for Omaha will carry the latest conditions.
Earth’s shadow will cover 96.3% of the Moon’s disk
The eclipse will remain partial, but it may closely resemble a total lunar eclipse near maximum. NASA calculates that 96.3% of the Moon’s disk will be inside the umbra, the central region of Earth’s shadow where direct sunlight is blocked.
Most of the Moon will darken and may develop a copper or reddish appearance. A narrow section will remain directly illuminated, preventing the eclipse from becoming total.
Some sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the shadowed Moon. The atmosphere filters and redirects more red and orange light toward the lunar surface.
NASA’s scientific visualization of the Aug. 27–28 lunar eclipse traces the Moon’s movement through the lighter penumbra and darker umbra.
The Moon starts low in the east-southeastern sky
The Moon will be about 4.5 degrees above the east-southeastern horizon when the penumbral phase begins at 8:23 p.m. Buildings and trees could obstruct the earliest stage.
By the beginning of the partial phase, the Moon will be approximately 16 degrees above the horizon. It will rise to about 30 degrees in the southeastern sky by the 11:12 p.m. maximum.
The entire eclipse will be visible from Omaha and Douglas County where cloud coverage and surrounding obstructions allow. The same event will be visible across much of North and South America.
Lunar eclipses do not require protective glasses
A lunar eclipse is safe to view directly. Eclipse glasses and solar filters are not required during any stage because observers are looking at the Moon rather than directly at the Sun.
Binoculars and telescopes can provide a closer look at Earth’s shadow moving across the Moon, but no viewing equipment is necessary.
Omaha’s next visible eclipse arrives in February 2027
After Thursday night’s event, Omaha will experience a penumbral lunar eclipse on Feb. 20, 2027. That eclipse will produce a more subtle dimming because the Moon will not enter Earth’s central shadow.
Another penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible Aug. 17, 2027. Hola Nebraska’s calendar of upcoming eclipses visible in Omaha includes local dates through 2029.
Thursday’s eclipse begins at 8:23 p.m. The partial phase will remain visible from 9:33 p.m. until 12:51 a.m., with maximum eclipse scheduled for 11:12 p.m.
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