On September 7-8, 2025, a total lunar eclipse will light up the night sky for many around the world. This will be the longest lunar eclipse since 2022, with totality lasting about 1 hour and 22 minutes. During this time, the Moon will take on a striking, blood-red color.
The eclipse will be visible in places like Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe, giving around 7 billion people a chance to catch a glimpse. About 6.2 billion will be able to see the full extent of the totality. Unfortunately, most of North and South America will miss it since it will be daytime there. However, a few spots, such as Hawaii and parts of Alaska and Brazil, will still see a partial eclipse.
So, what causes this dramatic change in the Moon’s appearance? A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon. While the Moon doesn’t disappear completely, it transforms into a reddish hue. This happens because Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter blue light waves, allowing only the longer red waves to reach the Moon. It’s similar to how sunsets appear red.
The entire eclipse will last about five and a half hours, starting at 15:28 GMT and concluding at 20:55 GMT. The totality phase will begin at 17:30 GMT and end at 18:52 GMT.
If you’re unsure when to look up, you can use tools like Greenwich Mean Time or Timeanddate.com to convert the times to your local timezone.
Lunar eclipses often follow solar eclipses in a cycle. A partial solar eclipse will occur on September 21, 2025, though mainly in areas like New Zealand and a narrow strip on Australia’s east coast.
Interestingly, recent studies show that interest in celestial events has surged, particularly on social media. Hashtags like #BloodMoon and #LunarEclipse trend with millions of posts during such events. This increasing engagement indicates that people are eager to connect with nature and the universe.
Overall, this upcoming lunar eclipse is not just a spectacle; it’s a chance to reflect on how humanity connects with the cosmos. It’s a reminder of the beauty and wonder of our universe.
Source link
MSFT Content
