A celestial spectacle awaits skywatchers this weekend as the Moon slips into Earth’s shadow, glowing a deep crimson during a total lunar eclipse on the night of September 7-8. The rare phenomenon, popularly called the “Blood Moon,” will be visible across vast swathes of Asia, including India, offering one of the longest and brightest eclipses of the decade.
Astronomers explained that the event occurs when the Earth positions itself between the Sun and the Moon, blocking sunlight from directly reaching the lunar surface. As the Moon passes through the Earth’s umbral shadow, it will be bathed in hues of red and orange. Scientists attribute the colour to Rayleigh scattering, which bends longer red wavelengths towards the Moon while filtering out shorter blue light.
The Union Science Ministry said the eclipse will be visible in major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Bhopal, Guwahati, and Chandigarh. "This eclipse is one of the most widely visible in years, observable from nearly 85 per cent of the globe," an official advisory noted.
Observers in India will witness the spectacle unfold from rooftops, terraces, and open fields away from city lights. Astronomers recommended avoiding light pollution to fully experience the celestial drama.
Also read: A Stargazer’s 2025: Lunar Eclipse, Saturn’s Rings and Planets
The event will begin at 8.58 pm IST on September 7, with the totality phase stretching from 11.00 pm to 12.22 am. The eclipse will conclude at 2.25 am on September 8. The totality alone will last an impressive 82 minutes, ranking it among the longest lunar eclipses of this decade.
Unlike solar eclipses, the lunar event is entirely safe to observe with the naked eye. Sky enthusiasts may, however, use binoculars or telescopes to glimpse lunar craters and gradients of colour across the Moon’s surface.
Photography enthusiasts have been encouraged to attempt long-exposure shots with a DSLR or smartphone mounted on a tripod. "Capture the progression for a time-lapse," astronomers suggested, noting that exposures of one to two seconds at ISO 400-800 with manual focus work best.
The September 7 Blood Moon is expected to be a defining spectacle of 2025, bridging folklore and science while uniting skywatchers under the same glowing red orb.
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