A rare total lunar eclipse, known as the Blood Moon, unfolded across the night skies of Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia on September 7–8, 2025, offering one of the most dramatic celestial events of the year. The eclipse lasted over five hours, with 82 minutes of totality, during which the Moon appeared bathed in a deep red hue.

The eclipse began at 15:28 GMT with the penumbral phase, followed by partial shadowing at 16:27 GMT, and reached full totality between 17:31 and 18:53 GMT, according to astronomical data. This alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun cast Earth’s darkest shadow known as the umbra across the lunar surface, creating the signature crimson glow.

Astronomers explained that the Moon’s reddish appearance is caused by Rayleigh scattering, the same phenomenon responsible for red sunsets. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue wavelengths scatter, allowing longer red wavelengths to illuminate the Moon.

The eclipse occurred just days before the Moon’s perigee, its closest point to Earth, making it appear slightly larger and brighter than usual a phenomenon often referred to as a “super blood moon”.

Public viewing events were held in cities across Europe and Asia, while millions tuned in to livestreams from observatories in Cyprus and Italy. North and South America missed the event due to daylight hours during the eclipse window.

This eclipse was visible to nearly 77% of the global population, with over 5.8 billion people able to witness the totality phase. The next total lunar eclipse visible from the Americas is expected in March 2026.