Why is it called a blood moon?<\/p>\n
The term “Blood Moon” stems from the Moon\u2019s reddish appearance during a total lunar eclipse. <\/p>\n
As sunlight passes through Earth\u2019s atmosphere, it bends and scatters, with red light dominating due to its longer wavelength.<\/p>\n
This effect is similar to the red hues seen in sunsets, often described poetically as “the light of all the world\u2019s sunsets projected onto the Moon.” <\/p>\n
The name also carries cultural weight, as ancient civilisations sometimes viewed the red Moon as an omen or sign of significant events.<\/p>\n
Other names for a Blood Moon<\/p>\n
Red Moon: A simple description of its color during totality.<\/p>\n
Harvest Moon: If the eclipse coincides with the full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox (typically September), as is the case for the September 2025 eclipse.<\/p>\n
Hunter\u2019s Moon, Corn Moon, etc.: Depending on the month, a Blood Moon may take on traditional full Moon names tied to seasonal or cultural significance.<\/p>\n
Lunar Tetrad: Refers to a rare series of four total lunar eclipses occurring approximately six months apart over two years, sometimes called a “Blood Moon Tetrad” in religious or cultural contexts.<\/p>\n
Is a Blood Moon coming in September 2025?<\/p>\n
Yes, a total lunar eclipse, or Blood Moon, is scheduled for September 7\u20138, 2025. <\/p>\n
The (penumbral) eclipse will begin at 7.28pm (UAE time, 15:28 UTC) on September 7, 2025. <\/p>\n
The entire event, including penumbral and partial phases, spans about 5 hours and 27 minutes.<\/p>\n
Key timings for totality (Local Times):<\/p>\n
UAE: 7:28 PM GST (Sept 7) to 12:53 AM (Sept 8) local time<\/p>\n
Perth, Australia: 1:30\u20132:52 AM AWST (Sept 8)<\/p>\n
Cairo, Egypt: 8:30\u20139:52 PM EEST (Sept 7)<\/p>\n
Cape Town, South Africa: 7:30\u20138:52 PM SAST (Sept 7)<\/p>\n
Tokyo, Japan: 2:30\u20133:52 AM JST (Sept 8)<\/p>\n
How often does a Blood Moon occur?<\/p>\n
Lunar eclipses happen approximately twice a year, but total lunar eclipses (Blood Moons) are less frequent, occurring about once every 1\u20133 years. <\/p>\n
Only about 29% of lunar eclipses are total. <\/p>\n
For example, 2025 will see two total lunar eclipses (March 13\u201314 and September 7\u20138).\u00a0<\/p>\n
A lunar tetrad, where four total eclipses occur in two years, is much rarer, happening roughly once every decade or so, with the next tetrad expected in 2032\u20132033.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The frequency of Blood Moons visible from a specific location depends on geography, as only about 4\u20135 total eclipses are visible from any single location per decade.<\/p>\n
Best places to view the September 2025 Blood Moon<\/p>\n
The September 7\u20138, 2025, Blood Moon will be visible to approximately 6.2 billion people (77% of the world\u2019s population), primarily in:<\/p>\n
Asia and Western Australia: Best views, with the entire eclipse (including totality) visible from start to finish.<\/p>\n
Europe, Middle East and Africa: Excellent visibility, though in Europe, the Moon may rise during totality, and in western regions, it may set before the eclipse ends.<\/p>\n
Eastern Australia and New Zealand: Partial visibility of later phases.<\/p>\n
North and South America: Limited to partial phases, as the Moon will set before totality begins.<\/p>\n
Optimal viewing locations:<\/p>\n
Chandigarh, India: Clear views with minimal light pollution in open areas.<\/p>\n
Perth, Australia: Prime viewing during early morning hours.<\/p>\n
Nairobi, Kenya, or Cape Town, South Africa: Excellent visibility in clear, dark skies.<\/p>\n
For the best experience, choose a location with:<\/p>\n
Minimal light pollution (rural areas, rooftops, or fields).<\/p>\n
A clear, unobstructed horizon.<\/p>\n
Low cloud cover and smog, as weather can obscure visibility.<\/p>\n
Recommended gear for viewing<\/p>\n
Lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses, so no protective filters are needed. <\/p>\n
The following gear enhances the experience:<\/p>\n
Binoculars (7×50 or 10×50): Affordable and portable, binoculars provide a closer view of the Moon\u2019s surface, revealing craters and maria during the reddish phase. A 7×50 pair offers a good balance of magnification and light collection.<\/p>\n
Telescope: A small refractor or reflector telescope (e.g., 70\u2013100mm aperture) allows detailed observation of lunar features. A low-power eyepiece (25\u201340mm) is ideal for viewing the entire Moon.<\/p>\n
Camera with tripod: For astrophotography, use a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens (200\u2013300mm) to capture the Moon\u2019s red hue. Set a low ISO (100\u2013400) and experiment with exposures (1\/100 to 1 second) during totality. A sturdy tripod prevents shake.<\/p>\n
Star chart or App: Apps like Stellarium or SkySafari help identify surrounding stars and constellations.<\/p>\n
Warm clothing and chair: For comfort during the multi-hour event, especially in cooler September nights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Why is it called a blood moon? The term “Blood Moon” stems from the Moon\u2019s reddish appearance during…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":110787,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[64,63,128,285],"class_list":["post-110786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-science","tag-space"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110786"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110786\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/110787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}