On September 7–8, a rare Blood Moon will glow crimson in the sky for over 3 hours, with totality lasting 82 minutes—visible to billions across Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Skywatchers, mark your calendars. Next week, the longest total lunar eclipse since 2022 will turn the Moon blood-red, creating a cosmic spectacle for nearly 85% of Earth’s population.
The event will unfold between September 7 and 8 (depending on local time zones) and last 3 hours, 29 minutes, and 24 seconds from start to finish. At the peak of the eclipse, a remarkable 82 minutes of totality will plunge the Moon into Earth’s shadow, painting it a deep crimson.
For observers, the show begins as the Moon slips into Earth’s umbra, darkening through its partial phase. Once totality arrives, the lunar disk will glow a fiery blood-red, before slowly brightening as it exits the shadow.
Unfortunately for North and South America, this eclipse won’t deliver. After enjoying a front-row seat to March’s lunar eclipse, Americans will have to settle for live-stream coverage.
Where Can You See It?
- Totality (full red Moon): Asia, central & eastern Africa, Australia
- Partial view: Rest of Africa, much of Europe, parts of Australia, east coast of Brazil
- Global reach: About 6.3 billion people will witness the total phase, while more than 7 billion will catch at least part of the event.
Why Does the Moon Turn Red?
The phenomenon occurs because Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching the Moon. Instead of disappearing, the Moon glows red due to Rayleigh scattering—the same effect that turns sunsets crimson—as sunlight bends around Earth’s atmosphere before hitting the lunar surface.
When Can Americans See the Next Eclipse?
Patience is key: the next total lunar eclipse visible across North America won’t occur until March 2026. Until then, the September 2025 Blood Moon offers one of the most widely visible lunar eclipses in recent history—made even more dramatic as the Moon will appear slightly larger, occurring just three days before perigee, its closest point to Earth.
