Almost Total — The August 2026 Lunar Eclipse Over Long Island

Late on the night of August 27 and into the early morning hours of August 28, skywatchers across Long Island were treated to a dramatic lunar eclipse as the Full Moon slipped deep into the shadow of the Earth.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up closely enough for the Moon to pass through Earth’s shadow. Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be seen along a relatively narrow path on Earth, a lunar eclipse can be viewed from anywhere on the nighttime side of the planet where the Moon is above the horizon.

This particular eclipse was a deep partial lunar eclipse — not a total eclipse. At maximum eclipse, which occurred at approximately 12:13 a.m. EDT on August 28, about 96.3% of the Moon’s visible disk was inside Earth’s dark central shadow, or umbra. Only a thin portion of the Moon remained outside the umbra, producing the brilliant crescent visible along the upper edge in the photograph.

Although it fell just short of totality, much of the eclipsed Moon took on the familiar deep orange and reddish color associated with a “Blood Moon.” That color is created by sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere. Our atmosphere scatters much of the shorter blue wavelengths while allowing more of the red and orange wavelengths to pass through and bend toward the Moon. In a sense, the reddish light illuminating the eclipsed Moon is the combined glow of sunrises and sunsets around the edge of the Earth.

How Often Do Lunar Eclipses Occur?

Lunar eclipses aren't exceptionally rare. Eclipse seasons occur roughly twice each year, and NASA's calculations show that there is always at least one — and sometimes two — lunar eclipses during a roughly 345-day period. But they aren't all alike. Some are subtle penumbral eclipses, some are partial eclipses, and others become spectacular total lunar eclipses.

And not every lunar eclipse is visible from Long Island. Visibility depends upon which side of Earth is facing the Moon when the eclipse occurs. In fact, 2026 provided a good example: the March 3 eclipse was total globally, while the August 28 event was a partial eclipse.

For those of us watching from Long Island, the August eclipse was tantalizingly close. Unfortunately cloudy skies limited many of us to only catch quick glimpses as the moon moved through the clouds, but for this writer the timing couldn’t have been better as depicted in the photo above when the Earth's shadow swallowed nearly the entire lunar disk, leaving behind only that narrow, intensely bright rim.

Not quite a total lunar eclipse — but perhaps all the more visually interesting because of it.

Photo and editorial: Fred Greco / Island Photo News

 SpaceX Over Long Island — A Falcon 9 Morning

Long Islanders willing to get up before dawn were treated to an unusual sight this morning as a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying another group of Starlink satellites climbed into orbit, becoming visible along the East Coast shortly after its launch from Florida.

I photographed the rocket as it passed near Fire Island, its exhaust plume illuminated high above the Earth while the landscape below was still in the darkness of early morning.

The sight has become increasingly familiar, but the technology behind it represents a remarkable change in spaceflight.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 first flew in 2010 and was designed around an idea that once seemed almost impossible — instead of throwing away a rocket after every launch, bring major portions of it back and fly them again. In December 2015, SpaceX successfully landed a Falcon 9 first-stage booster after an orbital mission, and in 2017 it successfully flew a previously used orbital-class booster for the first time.

Today, the Falcon 9's first stage — the large booster containing its nine Merlin engines — routinely separates from the second stage and returns to Earth. Depending upon the mission, it can land either near the launch site or on an autonomous drone ship stationed hundreds of miles offshore. SpaceX also recovers and reuses portions of the rocket's payload fairing, the protective shell surrounding the satellites during launch.

That reusability has helped make possible the extraordinary launch rate needed to build Starlink, SpaceX's network of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit designed to provide high-speed, low-latency Internet service. The first Starlink satellites were launched in 2019, and within just a few years the system had grown into the world's largest low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation.

So while what appeared over Fire Island this morning lasted only a few minutes, it was part of something much larger — a transformation in spaceflight in which launching a rocket, recovering much of it and preparing it to fly again is increasingly becoming routine.

And for a photographer standing beneath that flight path before sunrise, it made for one heck of a morning.

                                                    Story and Photo by Fred Greco

The Thunderbirds headline the New York Air Show in Montgomery, NY

The New York Air Show returned to Orange County Airport in Montgomery, NY this past weekend, drawing aviation enthusiasts for two days of aerial demonstrations highlighted by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and several talented civilian performers.

While the lineup was smaller than many had hoped, the pilots who took to the skies delivered exciting performances and gave spectators plenty to enjoy. For me, it was another opportunity to practice both still photography and videography while capturing some memorable moments from the weekend.

I hope you enjoy this short video highlight highlighting the Thunderbirds from the show!

📸🎥 Fred Greco
Island Photo News

 

 

Island Photo Group Captures the July Buck Moon

Photo: Fred Greco

For more than twenty years, the Island Photo Group has been bringing Long Island photographers together to learn, share ideas, and capture some of the region's most spectacular sights.

Founded in 2003, more than two decades later, several of the original founding members still remain active in the club — a testament to the friendships and dedication that have helped the organization thrive. 

Today, the Island Photo Group consists of approximately 45 members who meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center in Ellsworth W. Allen Park, 45 Motor Avenue in Farmingdale. Whether you're just learning the basics or have years of photographic experience, visitors are always welcome to attend a meeting and discover what the club has to offer. Annual dues are just $40, providing members with educational workshops, guest presentations, field workshops,  image critiques, and the opportunity to learn from fellow photographers throughout the year.

That spirit of learning and camaraderie was on full display during the evenings of July 30 and 31, when club members gathered at Captree State Park to photograph the July Buck Moon rising over the Fire Island Lighthouse—one of Long Island's most iconic photographic alignments.

 

Photo: Fred Greco                                               Photo: Jim Rapp            

The outing was organized and the moonrise alignment plotted by Membership Chairman Fred Greco using specialized astronomical planning software. Although rain and heavy cloud-cover blanketed much of Long Island throughout July 30, conditions began to improve just thirty minutes before moonrise. Members, along with several local photographers, remained optimistic, and their patience was rewarded as the skies gradually cleared, revealing a beautiful moonrise over the historic lighthouse.

Encouraged by the success of the first evening, many members and other local photographers returned the following night for what photographers like to call "another go at it." With even clearer skies on July 31, participants enjoyed a second opportunity to capture the dramatic scene while exchanging ideas, techniques, and plenty of stories along the beach.                                                                 

     

Photo: Nick Masselle                                                     Photo: Russ Popeil

While memorable photographs were certainly the goal, the evenings served as a reminder that photography clubs are about much more than cameras. They are about sharing knowledge, encouraging one another, and building friendships through a common passion.

Anyone interested in improving their photography is invited to attend a meeting and see firsthand why the Island Photo Group has remained a Long Island favorite for more than twenty years. 

"Twenty-three years after its founding, the Island Photo Group continues to prove that photography is more than creating beautiful images. It's about learning, sharing experiences, and forming friendships that last a lifetime. As the moon rose over Fire Island Lighthouse on two memorable summer evenings, so too did another chapter in the club's history."

By Fred Greco — Editor / Photojournalist  ––  Island Photo News