“Again This Year?”: Excitement Builds as SA Prepares for Spectacular Lunar Eclipse

• Cool Story Bru shared a TikTok on 26 August 2026 alerting South Africans to a rare partial lunar eclipse visible on Friday, 28 August
• The unusually deep eclipse will cover 96% of the Moon, with the peak moment occurring at 6:12 a.m
• South Africans online reacted with humour and disbelief, with some questioning whether it would be declared a public holiday

South Africa is in for a rare celestial treat this Friday morning. TikToker Cool Story Bru posted a video on 26 August 2026, alerting followers that a partial lunar eclipse will be visible from South Africa on 28 August 2026, with the maximum eclipse peaking at around 6:12 a.m.

What makes this event stand out is just how deep the partial eclipse will be. A remarkable 96% of the Moon will fall into Earth’s shadow, making it one of the most dramatic partial lunar eclipses in recent memory. According to Cool Story Bru, South Africans will not see another lunar eclipse of this scale until 2028, making Friday’s event a genuinely rare opportunity.

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Unlike a solar eclipse, no special eyewear is needed. The eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye, so all you need is an early alarm and a clear patch of sky.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. A partial lunar eclipse happens when only a portion of the Moon enters Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of its shadow. The Moon typically takes on a darkened, reddish or grey hue during this phase, depending on atmospheric conditions.

South Africans hoping to catch the spectacle should find an open outdoor spot with an unobstructed view of the western horizon, as the eclipse will be underway before sunrise. Clear skies will be essential, and Cool Story Bru urged viewers to keep an eye on the weather forecast ahead of Friday morning.

Watch the TikTok that has South Africans setting their alarms:

Mzansi reacts to the eclipse announcement

South Africans flooded the comments with a mix of excitement, humour and scepticism:

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@unknown wrote:

“The war between Samsung vs iPhone picture quality we are about to see. 😂”

@G said:

“Yoh, sangomas will be telling us stories. 😱”

@solami asked:

“Will it be a public holiday?”

@Rom questioned:

“Isn’t this a once in 500 years thing? Cause I swear I saw this last year.”

Source: Briefly News