Skywatchers across the Costa Blanca and Valencia region have another spectacular celestial event to look forward to this Friday morning, 28 August, when the Moon will pass deep into Earth’s shadow.

The almost-total lunar eclipse will turn much of the Moon a dark coppery red as it reaches its maximum — although there is an important technical detail behind the headlines.

This is not a total lunar eclipse. The Moon will come extremely close to totality, but a small portion will remain outside Earth’s darkest shadow.

For anyone willing to get up early, however, it could still be an impressive sight.

What time is the lunar eclipse?

The eclipse begins during the early hours of Friday morning.

According to Spain’s Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), the stages visible from Spain are:

• 03:23 – the penumbral eclipse begins
• 04:34 – the partial eclipse begins
• Around 06:12 – maximum eclipse
• Around 07:51 – the partial eclipse ends

The exact visibility depends on where you are in Spain, because the Moon will be setting in eastern parts of the country while the eclipse is still underway.

For people around Gandia and the Costa Blanca, that makes the timing particularly important.

Why will the Moon turn red?

As the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow, it doesn’t simply disappear.

Some sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the lunar surface.

Earth’s atmosphere scatters much of the blue light, while red and orange wavelengths are able to pass through more effectively. The remaining light can therefore give the Moon a distinctive deep orange, copper or reddish colour.

It is the same basic reason that sunsets can appear red.

This is why total lunar eclipses are often popularly called Blood Moons.

However, Friday’s event is technically a partial lunar eclipse, so calling it a Blood Moon isn’t strictly accurate.

The Moon will come extremely close to totality, with around 93% of it entering Earth’s darkest shadow at maximum eclipse according to the IGN.

Can you see it from Gandia and the Costa Blanca?

Yes — but you’ll need to be up early.

The biggest limitation for eastern Spain isn’t the eclipse itself. It’s the Moon’s position in the sky.

By the time the eclipse reaches its most spectacular stage, the Moon will be very low towards the western to south-western horizon.

In the Valencia region, the Moon sets before the entire eclipse has finished.

That means people around Gandia, Valencia, Dénia, Jávea, Calpe, Benidorm and Alicante won’t see every stage from beginning to end.

Instead, the best opportunity will be during the final part of the night, as the Moon becomes heavily eclipsed.

The best advice for Costa Blanca viewers

If you want to try to see it, don’t wait until 06:12 to go outside.

Get into position before 06:00 and find somewhere with a clear, unobstructed view towards the west or south-west.

The lower the Moon gets, the more important the horizon becomes.

Buildings, hills, trees and even nearby mountains could block your view.

A location with a wide open horizon will therefore give you the best chance.

No special eclipse glasses needed

Unlike the solar eclipse that crossed Spain earlier this month, you do not need special glasses to watch a lunar eclipse.

It is completely safe to look directly at the Moon with your eyes.

Binoculars can make the changing colours and shadow much easier to see, while a telescope can reveal even more detail.

But you don’t need specialist equipment.

Even a smartphone can capture the Moon, although getting a large, detailed image can be difficult because the Moon will still be relatively small in the frame.

This could be a great photo opportunity

The timing could actually produce some interesting photographs for anyone around the Costa Blanca.

Because the eclipsed Moon will be relatively low in the sky, photographers may be able to include local scenery in the foreground.

That could mean the reddish Moon appearing above:

• Gandia and the surrounding coastline
• Mountains around La Safor
• Alicante’s skyline
• Coastal buildings and palm trees
• Other landmarks along the Costa Blanca

A camera with a decent optical zoom will have a significant advantage over a standard smartphone.

Keep the camera steady, use optical zoom rather than digital zoom where possible, and take a sequence of photographs as the Moon changes.

Don’t expect to see a giant red Moon

One thing worth remembering is that photographs of lunar eclipses can be misleading.

The Moon may look enormous and intensely red in photographs because of camera settings, long lenses and image processing.

To the naked eye, it will still appear relatively small in the sky.

The real attraction is watching the Earth’s shadow gradually cover the lunar surface and seeing the remaining illuminated part become increasingly dramatic.

Spain gets another major celestial event

Friday’s eclipse comes just weeks after the spectacular total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026, which was visible across large parts of Spain.

That makes August an unusually exciting month for astronomy in the country.

While the solar eclipse required proper eye protection, Friday’s lunar eclipse is much easier to observe.

You simply need a clear sky, an unobstructed horizon and the willingness to get out of bed before sunrise.

Will the weather cooperate?

For people hoping to see the eclipse from the Costa Blanca, cloud cover will ultimately determine whether the event is visible.

Even a spectacular eclipse is useless if the Moon is hidden behind cloud.

The forecast should become much more reliable as Friday approaches, so anyone planning to photograph it should check local conditions on Thursday evening and again before heading outside.

The most important thing is to have a clear view towards the western or south-western horizon.

So, when should you get outside?

For Costa Blanca and Gandia residents, the safest approach is to be ready before 06:00 on Friday morning.

The maximum eclipse is expected at around 06:12, but the Moon will already be very low by then and will continue towards the horizon.

You therefore don’t want to arrive at the last minute and discover that a building, hill or trees are blocking the view.

Find your viewing spot, get your camera or binoculars ready and watch as the Moon takes on its unusual reddish appearance.

And remember: no special glasses are required.

If the skies are clear, Friday morning could provide one last spectacular astronomical show before August comes to an end.