Total Lunar Eclipse, 'Blood Moon,' to Darken Sky on Sept. 7–8, 2025

Sky-watchers will be treated to a total lunar eclipse on the night of Sept. 7–8, 2025, when Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon and casts its shadow across the lunar disk, briefly turning the full Moon a deep red. In some locations the Moon will remain fully immersed in Earth’s umbra for more than an hour, producing the dramatic "blood moon" effect.

The red color occurs as sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere and is refracted and scattered, allowing the longer red and orange wavelengths—those that dominate sunrises and sunsets—to reach and illuminate the Moon while shorter blue wavelengths are scattered away. Unlike solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse is safe to view with the naked eye and can be seen without special equipment from any location where the Moon is above the horizon.

The total eclipse will be visible in its entirety across large parts of Asia, Africa, eastern Europe and western Australia. Observers in parts of western Europe—including Spain—and in Norway will see only a partial eclipse as the Moon moves in and out of Earth’s shadow from those locations. In North and South America, sky-watchers will not see the eclipse itself but will instead observe a bright full Moon, commonly called the "Corn Moon," which coincides with the annual corn harvest and appears full to the naked eye for several nights around the peak.

Local start, peak and end times will vary by location and time zone; viewers are advised to consult local astronomical societies, observatories or online eclipse trackers for precise timing and viewing windows for their area. The peak of the total phase is expected to coincide broadly with the Corn Moon’s maximum fullness, meaning observers in the eclipse zone will see both phenomena together.

Lunar eclipses occur only during a full Moon when the orbital geometry lines up so Earth’s shadow falls on the lunar surface. Because Earth’s atmosphere filters and bends sunlight into the shadow, the Moon does not disappear entirely during totality but takes on a range of coppery to deep red tones depending on the state of the atmosphere, including factors such as volcanic aerosols and dust.

Observers who wish to photograph the event can do so with standard camera equipment; a telephoto lens or small telescope will provide more detailed images of the lunar surface during totality. Unlike solar eclipses, no eye protection is required to watch a lunar eclipse. The event offers a relatively accessible opportunity for the public to observe celestial mechanics in action and to compare the appearance of the full Corn Moon across wide geographic areas.

For those outside the path of totality, the full Moon will still be prominent and bright, providing an opportunity for nighttime photographers and casual observers to enjoy the weekend sky. Local astronomy groups and planetariums often organize public viewing events around such eclipses and can provide exact timing and viewing advice specific to neighborhoods and cities.