| Global Event: | Total Lunar Eclipse |
|---|---|
| Local Type: | Total Lunar Eclipse, in Pietermaritzburg |
| Begins: | Sun, Dec 31, 2028 at 6:59 pm |
| Maximum: | Sun, Dec 31, 2028 at 7:02 pm 1.220 Magnitude |
| Ends: | Sun, Dec 31, 2028 at 9:40 pm |
| Duration: | 2 hours, 40 minutes | All times shown on this page are local time. |
December 31, 2028 — Total Lunar Eclipse — Pietermaritzburg
The animation shows what the eclipse approximately looks like in Pietermaritzburg. Stages and times of the eclipse are outlined below. All times are local time (SAST) for Pietermaritzburg.
| Time | Phase | Event | Direction | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4:03 pm Sun, Dec 31 | Not directly visible | Penumbral Eclipse begins Below horizon |  80° | -35.6° |
| 5:07 pm Sun, Dec 31 | Not directly visible | Partial Eclipse begins Below horizon | 74° | -22.7° |
| 6:16 pm Sun, Dec 31 | Not directly visible | Total Eclipse begins Below horizon | 67° | -9.1° |
| 6:52 pm Sun, Dec 31 | Not directly visible | Maximum Eclipse Below horizon | 63° | -1.4° |
| 6:59 pm Sun, Dec 31 | Rising | Moonrise Rising, but the combination of a very low moon and the total eclipse phase will make the moon so dim that it will be extremely difficult to view until moon gets higher in the sky or the total phase ends. | 62° | -0.2° |
| 7:02 pm Sun, Dec 31 | Maximum in Pietermaritzburg This is the moment when the eclipse reaches its greatest magnitude while the entire Moon is above the horizon in Pietermaritzburg. The true maximum point of this eclipse cannot be seen in Pietermaritzburg because the Moon is below the horizon at that time. Since the Moon is near the horizon at this time, we recommend going to a high point or finding an unobstructed area with free sight to East-northeast for the best view of the eclipse. | 62° | 0.3° | |
| 7:27 pm Sun, Dec 31 | Total Eclipse ends Total moon eclipse ends. Moon close to horizon, so make sure you have free sight to East-northeast. | 59° | 4.5° | |
| 8:36 pm Sun, Dec 31 | Partial Eclipse ends Partial moon eclipse ends. | 49° | 16.2° | |
| 9:40 pm Sun, Dec 31 | Penumbral Eclipse ends The Earth's penumbra ends. | 38° | 25.6° |
How to use altitude & direction to find in the sky
The curvature of the shadow's path and the apparent rotation of the Moon's disk is due to the Earth's rotation.
This total lunar eclipse is fully visible in Pietermaritzburg. The total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a blood moon, as the Moon turns red.
Cloud Coverage (Dec 31)
In the past, this day was cloudy 54% of the time (since 2000).
Lunar Eclipses
- When Is the Next Lunar Eclipse?
- Total Lunar Eclipse
- Why Does the Moon Turn Red?
- Partial Lunar Eclipse
- Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
- Can I See a Lunar Eclipse?
- Blood Moon - Total Lunar Eclipse
- Eclipse Seasons
- What Is a Tetrad?
- Magnitude of Eclipses
- Accuracy of Our Eclipse Calculations
- Why Two Dates for a Lunar Eclipse?
Eclipses and Transits Visible in Pietermaritzburg
| Eclipse Visibility From Pietermaritzburg | Visibility Worldwide | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2024 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Sep 7, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Feb 17, 2026 Partial Solar Eclipse | Annular Solar Eclipse |  | |
| Aug 28, 2026 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Feb 6, 2027 Partial Solar Eclipse | Annular Solar Eclipse |  | Note: Click on the date link for details in Pietermaritzburg, or the path map image for global details. |
Next total solar eclipse visible in Pietermaritzburg
Next annular eclipse visible in Pietermaritzburg