Partial Lunar Eclipse at Dawn Over Saudi Arabia Aug 28

Skywatchers across Saudi Arabia will have a chance to catch the early stages of a partial lunar eclipse at dawn on Friday, 28 August 2026. The Moon will move through Earth's shadow shortly before moonset, so parts of the Kingdom will see only the opening phases of the event.

The penumbral phase, when the Moon begins to dim slightly, starts around 04:23–04:24 AST and is visible across all regions while the Moon is still above the horizon. The partial phase, when the Moon touches the darker umbral shadow, begins around 05:33–05:34 AST.

What each city will see

In Riyadh, the penumbral phase is visible from about 04:23 AST and the partial phase begins around 05:33 AST, but the Moon sets shortly afterward, so maximum and later stages are not observable. Medina sees the penumbral phase from 04:23 AST and the partial start at 05:33 AST, with moonset near 06:01 AST leaving only the early partial stages visible.

In Jeddah and Makkah, penumbral shading begins around 04:23 AST, and observers catch initial partial shading shortly before moonset near 06:01–06:02 AST. Northern locations such as Haql and Al Qurayyat see the partial phase begin near 05:34 AST with the Moon a few degrees above the horizon. Eastern areas lose the Moon earliest.

On a national timing framework, maximum eclipse falls around 07:12–07:13 AST and the event ends around 10:01–10:02 AST — though these later stages occur below the horizon for viewers in the Kingdom.

The eclipse can be watched safely with the naked eye, and no fees, permits, or registrations are required to observe it from public areas.

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