Total 'Blood Moon' seen around the world; next partial lunar eclipse set for Aug. 28, 2026

Millions of people across several continents saw a total lunar eclipse on the night of Sept. 8, 2025, when the Moon took on a deep red hue commonly described as a "Blood Moon." Observers and photographers captured the phenomenon over cities including London, Athens, Tokyo and Beijing. The Royal Museums Greenwich said the next partial lunar eclipse will occur on Aug. 28, 2026.

The alignment that produced the total eclipse lasted under three hours, reaching maximum coverage at about 19:33 BST and concluding at 21:55 BST, according to observers and timing posted by UK-based astronomers. It was the first total lunar eclipse visible from the United Kingdom since 2022 and was widely reported from locations across Europe, Asia and Africa.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting the planet's shadow on the lunar surface. During a total lunar eclipse, some sunlight is refracted through Earth's atmosphere and bent toward the Moon; molecules and particles in the atmosphere scatter shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue, and allow longer red wavelengths to reach and illuminate the lunar surface. The result is the reddish tint that gives the event its popular nickname.

Lunar eclipses are different from solar eclipses in that they are safe to view with the naked eye because the Moon's reflected light is not intense. Amateur and professional photographers nevertheless sought to document surface details and subtleties in color, and astronomers advised that while a telescope is unnecessary to see the event, longer photographic lenses or telescopes will reveal more of the Moon's surface features. One UK astronomer recommended choosing an elevated site with an unobstructed view to the east to improve the chances of a good sighting and clearer photographs.

Lunar eclipses, in various forms, occur at least twice a year, but total lunar eclipses are less frequent for any given location. A partial lunar eclipse, such as the one forecast for Aug. 28, 2026, happens when the Moon passes through the outer part of Earth's shadow, known as the penumbra, and only a portion of the lunar disk moves through the darkest part of the shadow. On that occasion, only part of the Moon is expected to darken rather than the entire disk.

Observers and institutions worldwide documented Monday's event, with images showing the reddened Moon rising behind landmarks and city skylines. The spectacle provided both a public engagement moment for astronomy and an opportunity for scientists and educators to explain the mechanics of eclipses and atmospheric effects that create the Blood Moon appearance. Those who missed this event can plan for the partial eclipse in August 2026 while noting that total lunar eclipses will occur for some locations in subsequent years as orbital alignments change.