Rare Blood Moon total lunar eclipse visible across much of the UK tonight
Moonrise and timing guide, visibility advice and scientific explanation for the event that will turn the lunar surface red
A rare total lunar eclipse — commonly called a "Blood Moon" — will be visible across much of the United Kingdom on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, offering skywatchers a chance to see the moon take on a deep red hue.
For observers in the UK the astronomical maximum of the eclipse is listed at 19:11 BST, but at that moment the moon will still be below the horizon. Experts therefore advise having eyes to the eastern sky from about 19:33 BST, when the moon will have risen and the deep red coloration should be apparent. The alignment that produces the eclipse will conclude by 21:55 BST.
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon and casts its shadow on the lunar surface. Royal Museums Greenwich explained that "when this happens, the only light that reaches the Moon's surface is from the edges of the Earth's atmosphere." The atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths, allowing redder light to reach and reflect off the moon, producing the red glow often described as a Blood Moon.
Skywatchers do not need telescopes to see the eclipse and the change in color is visible to the naked eye. "You don't need a telescope to take a good photograph of the moon, but if you want to see details on the lunar surface, you'll want to use the longest lens that you have," astronomer Tom Kerss advised.
Because the moon will be low on the eastern horizon for much of the visible portion of the event, observers are encouraged to seek a high vantage point with a clear view to the east to avoid buildings, trees or local terrain obscuring the view. The moon will gradually move out of Earth's umbra and penumbra until the event ends at 9:55 p.m. BST.
Total lunar eclipses can last several hours from the first penumbral contact to the final penumbral exit, though periods of totality typically do not exceed about 100 minutes. At least two lunar eclipses occur worldwide each year, but not all are visible from a given location. For people in the UK who miss this evening's eclipse, the next lunar eclipse expected to be visible from the country is on Aug. 28, 2026.
Some media coverage has noted that the moon will be slightly closer to Earth than average for this event — a configuration sometimes called a "supermoon" — and has used combined nicknames such as "Super Blood Wolf Moon." Observers and scientific bodies, however, describe the phenomenon in terms of the eclipse geometry and atmospheric scattering that produce the red coloration.
Observers planning to photograph the event should allow time to find a clear eastern horizon and set up equipment before moonrise. Weather conditions will determine how well the eclipse can be seen from any particular location, and local forecasts should be checked before heading out.