Get prepared stargazers!
In only one week, Earth’s shadow will roll throughout the lunar floor, giving rise to a spectacular ‘blood moon’ complete lunar eclipse on Sept. 7-8.
The week leading up to the total lunar eclipse is the perfect time to stake out your ideal eclipse viewing spot. This extra bit of prep will give photographers the opportunity to line up spectacular compositions featuring the eclipsed moon alongside iconic landmarks, while also allowing naked eye viewers to ensure that there won’t be any pesky buildings ruining their view.
Stargazers lucky enough to have a direct line of sight on the moon during the total lunar eclipse will see it take on a rusty red hue as it slips into the deepest part of Earth’s shadow during totality, known as its umbra. This crimson glow comes from Rayleigh scattering, whereby bluer wavelengths of daylight are deflected by particles in Earth’s environment, whereas longer crimson wavelengths are allowed to go by way of comparatively unhindered.
During totality, the moon is saturated within the longer wavelengths of daylight, inflicting it to show a deep crimson, granting it the moniker of a “blood moon”.
There’s absolutely no need to panic if clouds threaten your view of the lunar spectacle, or if the moon is below the horizon as the eclipse unfolds, as Space.com will be hosting a livestream of the event online, with details to be released closer to the time. You can also follow along with the latest eclipse news via our lunar eclipse live blog, which will provide views of the different eclipse phases as they happen, along with reports from observers in the field.
What to look out for when the blood moon rises on Sept. 7-8
The total lunar eclipse will begin globally at 11:28 a.m. (1528 GMT) on Sept. 7, with totality occurring at 1:30 p.m. ET (1730 GMT) and stretching on for a staggering 82 minutes before the deepest part of Earth’s shadow begins to slip from the surface of the lunar disk.
Each phase of the eclipse will occur at the same time for everyone on Earth, though your ability to see it will be dictated by whether the moon is above the horizon as the cosmic alignment plays out.
An estimated 5.8 billion people — roughly 76% of the world’s population — spread across Australia, Asia, Africa and eastern Europe will be in a position to witness totality from beginning to end.
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Viewers in nations on both aspect of this block, such because the U.Okay., Spain and Brazil, will get a glimpse at some phases of the eclipse, however miss elements, or all of totality. Sadly, the moon can be beneath the horizon for the whole lot of the Sept. 7-8 eclipse for these within the Americas.
There’s no threat of damaging your eyesight when viewing the phases of a complete lunar eclipse — versus a photo voltaic eclipse, the place utmost care should be taken to guard your eyesight — so be at liberty to watch the occasion by way of a telescope, with binoculars, or the bare eye!
Looking to get a long-lasting reminiscence of the Sept. 7 eclipse? Then why not try our information to photographing a lunar eclipse with a DSLR and skim our roundup of one of the best cameras and lenses accessible for astrophotography in 2025.
Editor’s Note: If you seize a picture of the overall lunar eclipse and wish to share it with Space.com’s readers, then please ship your picture(s), feedback, and your title and site to spacephotos@house.com.