The moon will take on a dramatic red hue during a total lunar eclipse the first weekend of September. While viewers across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia will witness the celestial event, the phenomenon will not be visible from the United States this time around.
What Causes a Lunar Eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow across the moon’s surface. This alignment blocks direct sunlight and bathes the moon in a reddish glow. NASA notes that each eclipse is visible from only one half of Earth at a time.
Timing of September’s Eclipse
The upcoming eclipse will unfold between September 7 and 8, depending on local time zones. In Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the event will span much of September 7. The duration underscores the grandeur of the alignment as Earth’s shadow gradually engulfs the moon.
Totality and Duration
According to NASA, the totality phase—when Earth’s inner shadow fully covers the moon—will last about one hour and 22 minutes. In total, the event will span approximately three hours and 29 minutes, moving through penumbral and umbral phases before returning the moon to its usual brilliance.
Penumbral vs. Umbral Shadows
Lunar eclipses progress through different shadow phases. The penumbra is the fainter outer shadow, while the umbra is the darker, central shadow responsible for the moon’s crimson glow. The transition from penumbral shading to full umbral coverage creates the signature spectacle of a total lunar eclipse.
Who Gets the Best View?
This September’s eclipse will favor viewers in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. These regions fall directly within the line of sight as Earth passes between the sun and moon. Unfortunately, the Americas—including the United States—will miss out on this particular celestial show.
When Will the U.S. See the Next Eclipse?
For American skywatchers, patience is required. NASA projects the next total lunar eclipse visible across the U.S. will occur on March 3, 2026.
Until then, U.S. observers may enjoy partial eclipses and other lunar phenomena, but the full “blood moon” will remain out of reach.
Why Is It Called a Blood Moon?
The nickname “blood moon” arises from the moon’s fiery red appearance during totality. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue wavelengths scatter away.
The remaining longer wavelengths bend and project onto the moon, tinting its surface with an eerie red glow visible to observers on Earth.
A Rare Alignment
Total lunar eclipses occur only during a full moon, when Earth, sun, and moon align perfectly. Partial eclipses, by contrast, occur when the alignment is slightly off, leaving only part of the moon covered by Earth’s shadow. The perfect geometry of a total eclipse makes it particularly striking.
Though the September eclipse will not be visible in the U.S., its appearance across much of the Eastern Hemisphere serves as a reminder of the universal wonder of astronomy.
For those eager to experience it firsthand, live streams from observatories and space agencies will help bring the red moon to screens worldwide.
