Total Lunar Eclipse on Sept. 7-8 Offers Stunning ‘Blood Moon’ View
A total lunar eclipse is set to take place overnight on September 7 into the early hours of September 8, creating a spectacular red ‘blood moon’ visible to skywatchers across large parts of Asia, Western Australia, and Europe. This celestial event will reach its maximum phase when the moon is entirely enveloped in Earth’s umbral shadow at 5:11 p.m. EDT (21:11 GMT) on September 7.
The totality phase, which is the period when the moon is fully immersed in darkness, will last approximately 82 minutes. Observers in various time zones will have the opportunity to witness this phenomenon at different times. For example, in London, the eclipse will be visible from 7:30 p.m. to 7:52 p.m. (BST) on September 7, while viewers in Paris will see it from 7:30 p.m. to 8:52 p.m. (CEST).
Viewing Information Across Global Locations
Here are some key viewing times for the total lunar eclipse in different cities:
– Cape Town (SAST): 7:30 p.m. – 8:52 p.m. (September 7)
– Istanbul/Cairo/Nairobi (EEST/EAT): 8:30 p.m. – 9:52 p.m. (September 7)
– Tehran (IRST): 9:00 p.m. – 10:22 p.m. (September 7)
– Mumbai (IST): 11:00 p.m. (Sept. 7) – 12:22 a.m. (Sept. 8)
– Bangkok (ICT): 12:30 a.m. – 1:52 a.m. (September 8)
– Beijing/Hong Kong/Perth (CST/HKT/AWST): 1:30 a.m. – 2:52 a.m. (September 8)
– Tokyo (JST): 2:30 a.m. – 3:52 a.m. (September 8)
– Sydney (AEST): 3:30 a.m. – 4:52 a.m. (September 8)
According to Time and Date, nearly 77% of the world’s population will have the chance to experience the full total phase of this eclipse.
For those unable to view the lunar eclipse in person, a livestream will be available on Space.com, allowing viewers to enjoy the blood moon from home. The event will also be accompanied by updates in a live blog on the website.
The Phases of the Eclipse
The eclipse will begin as the moon enters Earth’s penumbral shadow, leading to a subtle shading effect. As the moon moves deeper into the umbra, a dark shadow will gradually cover its surface. During the totality phase, the moon will take on a reddish-orange hue, a phenomenon attributed to Earth’s atmospheric conditions at the time.
This eclipse coincides with the moon’s perigee, occurring just 2.7 days prior to its closest point to Earth, meaning the moon will appear slightly larger than usual in the night sky. Because the total eclipse will occur deep within Earth’s umbra, the moon is expected to glow with a rich, dark red color.
Observers in Asia and Australia will have the advantage of a high lunar position during totality, perfect for both viewing and photography. Conversely, those in Europe and Africa will see the moon rise at dusk, adding an intriguing backdrop to the event. Unfortunately, viewers in the Americas will miss out on this lunar spectacle.
As a reminder, if you capture any images of the total lunar eclipse, Space.com invites readers to share their photos by emailing them to [email protected].
