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February 20–21, 2027 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: What to Check Locally
NASA lists a penumbral lunar eclipse beginning at 21:12 UT on February 20, 2027, reaching greatest eclipse at 23:13 UT, and ending at 01:13 UT on February 21. NASA lists broad visibility across the Americas and other regions, but a regional label does not establish that the Moon is above your horizon for any particular phase. Penumbral shading is subtle and can be hard to notice. Check the U.S. Naval Observatory's location-specific eclipse circumstances and nearby moonrise/moonset, then check local clouds close to the event.
Event date: Feb 20-Feb 21 | Peak Feb 20
By The Star Window · Fact checked 2026-10-15 · Accountability and corrections
Use The Star Window for local cloud conditions. NASA and the U.S. Naval Observatory remain authoritative for eclipse timing and geometry.
What a penumbral eclipse looks like
In a penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through Earth's faint outer shadow. NASA notes that the dimming can be slight enough to miss if you are not watching for it. This is not a total lunar eclipse or a deep partial eclipse, so plan for a subtle change rather than a dramatic red Moon.
The event is safe to view directly with your eyes. Binoculars or a telescope are optional ways to get a closer look; solar-eclipse glasses are not needed for viewing the Moon.
Sources: NASA: Eclipses During 2027, NASA: Eclipses and the Moon, NASA: Eclipses (lunar viewing safety)
Global UTC phases and the local calendar date
NASA's detailed catalog gives the global phase times in Universal Time (UT), rounded to the nearest minute. The eclipse begins late on February 20 UT and ends after midnight UT on February 21.
For a time-zone example only, subtracting five hours gives 4:12 p.m., 6:13 p.m., and 8:13 p.m. EST on February 20 for the beginning, greatest eclipse, and end. These are converted global contacts—not a guarantee that the Moon is above the horizon or that all phases are visible from a particular place. Use your local time zone and a location-specific calculation.
Swipe the table horizontally to view every column.
| Global phase | NASA time (UT) | EST arithmetic example (UTC−5) |
|---|---|---|
| Penumbral eclipse begins | Feb. 20, 21:12 | Feb. 20, 4:12 p.m. |
| Greatest eclipse | Feb. 20, 23:13 | Feb. 20, 6:13 p.m. |
| Penumbral eclipse ends | Feb. 21, 01:13 | Feb. 20, 8:13 p.m. |
Sources: NASA: Eclipses During 2027
Broad regions are not a local visibility forecast
NASA's future-eclipses table lists the event across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. That describes broad regions, not every city or every phase. Whether you can watch depends on your location, the Moon's altitude and horizon, and the local phase times.
Enter your location in the U.S. Naval Observatory Lunar Eclipse Computer. Its local-circumstances table is for eclipse events visible from the selected location and includes Moon altitude and azimuth plus nearby moonrise and moonset. Do not copy another city's times or infer local visibility from a continent label.
Sources: NASA: Future Eclipses, U.S. Naval Observatory: Lunar Eclipse Computer
A practical observing check
For sky discovery, use the astronomy calendar and events hub. A stargazing forecast can help with nearby cloud conditions, but it does not calculate eclipse phases or prove the Moon is above your local horizon.
- Before choosing a viewing time, check the USNO local circumstances for your exact location and note which phases occur while the Moon is above your horizon.
- Choose a spot with a clear view toward the Moon's position during that interval; nearby buildings, trees, or terrain can block a low Moon.
- Check a local short-range cloud forecast near your planned session. This page does not predict weather, and a clear regional map does not determine eclipse geometry.
- Use your eyes first. Binoculars or a telescope can magnify the Moon, but neither is required; give your eyes time to notice the subtle penumbral shading.
Sources: NASA: Eclipses and the Moon, U.S. Naval Observatory: Lunar Eclipse Computer
Another penumbral eclipse in 2027
NASA's detailed 2027 catalog also lists a penumbral lunar eclipse on August 17 UT. Its global contacts are 05:24, 07:14 (greatest eclipse), and 09:03 UT; NASA rounds these phase times to the nearest minute. NASA's summary labels local event dates August 16–17 and includes the Americas among broad visibility regions. Neither date label nor regional coverage confirms that a particular location sees any phase.
NASA explains that penumbral dimming can be slight enough to miss. USNO places full Moon at 07:29 UT on August 17, 15 minutes after the catalog's rounded greatest-eclipse time. This phase timing is context, not a local visibility or viewing-quality forecast.
Use the U.S. Naval Observatory Lunar Eclipse Computer with a location to check which contacts are locally visible and review Moon altitude, azimuth, and nearby rise and set times. The catalog's global UT contacts are not local clock appointments.
Sources: NASA: Eclipses During 2027, NASA: Future Eclipses, NASA: Eclipses and the Moon, U.S. Naval Observatory: Lunar Eclipse Computer, U.S. Naval Observatory: Dates of Primary Phases of the Moon (2027)
Earlier lunar-eclipse guide (2026)
This route previously covered the August 28, 2026 partial lunar eclipse. That is a separate, past event; its date, type, and visibility details do not describe the February 2027 penumbral eclipse.
Sources: NASA: Eclipses and the Moon
What this page does not calculate
This guide does not give city-specific phase times, moonrise, Moon altitude, twilight, horizon obstructions, or weather. Use an authoritative local eclipse calculator for geometry and check local weather close to the event.
Questions and answers
Is the eclipse on February 20 or February 21?
NASA's detailed catalog uses UT: the event begins on February 20 and its final penumbral contact is at 01:13 UT on February 21. Your local calendar date depends on your time zone; the EST example on this page is all on February 20.
Will the eclipse be visible everywhere in the United States?
Do not assume that. NASA gives broad regional visibility, but the Moon must be above your local horizon during the phases. Check the USNO Lunar Eclipse Computer for your exact location.
Will it look like a blood Moon?
Do not expect that. This is a penumbral eclipse: the Moon passes through Earth's faint outer shadow, and NASA says the dimming can be difficult to notice.
Do I need eclipse glasses or a telescope?
No solar-eclipse glasses are needed to view the Moon. The event is safe to watch with the naked eye; binoculars or a telescope are optional for a closer view.
How can I tell whether the Moon is up for the eclipse?
Use the USNO Lunar Eclipse Computer with your exact location. It provides local circumstances for phases visible from that location and lists Moon altitude and nearby moonrise/moonset.
Can clouds hide the eclipse?
Yes. Check a local short-range cloud forecast near your session after confirming the local eclipse window. A weather forecast does not determine eclipse timing or geometry.
Sources
- NASA: Eclipses During 2027 (checked 2026-10-15)
- NASA: Future Eclipses (checked 2026-10-15)
- NASA: Eclipses and the Moon (checked 2026-10-15)
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Lunar Eclipse Computer (checked 2026-10-15)
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Dates of Primary Phases of the Moon (2027) (checked 2026-10-15)
- NASA: Eclipses (lunar viewing safety) (checked 2026-10-15)