On the evening of August 27, 2026, there will be an almost total lunar eclipse that will be visible from all of California.
We will have a brief overview of the eclipse in the planetarium from 7 p.m. until 7:20, and then, the Palmdale School District’s SAGE Planetarium will be open for public viewing of the partial lunar eclipse through telescopes from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
If skies are clear, the eclipse should be visible to the unaided eye from anywhere in Southern California. Because lunar eclipses require no special eye protection—unlike solar eclipses—it is a perfectly safe and relaxing experience for families and stargazers of all ages. It is safe to view a lunar eclipse without any eye protection. You do not need a telescope to see a lunar eclipse. Just go outside and look for the Moon in the southeast. It should appear a shade of red, orange, or yellow, depending on the amount of particulates in the Earth’s Atmosphere.
Eclipse Timeline
6:24 p.m. Penumbral eclipse begins (The Moon is still below the horizon)
7:00 p.m. Planetarium presentation about the eclipse
7:18 p.m. Official time of moonrise on southeastern horizon
7:30 p.m. Telescopes are open for viewing outside the SAGE Planetarium
7:34 p.m. Umbral eclipse begins as the Moon enters into the direct shadow of the Earth
9:13 p.m. Greatest eclipse (96 percent of Moon in shadow)
10:30 p.m. Telescopes viewing ends and clean up begins
10:52 p.m. Umbral eclipse ends
11:15 p.m. Gates close at the SAGE Academy Parking Lot
12:02 a.m. Penumbral eclipse ends