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Stargazers across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia are in for a treat! A total lunar eclipse will grace the skies on September 7-8, painting the moon a captivating shade of red. Sadly, this celestial spectacle won’t be visible from the United States.
This phenomenon occurs when the Earth positions itself perfectly between the sun and moon, casting its shadow upon the lunar surface and giving it a rusty red hue. While each lunar eclipse is visible from half of the Earth, this time the Americas are on the wrong side of the planet to witness the event.
The eclipse will begin at 15:28 UTC on September 7 and conclude at 20:55 UTC. The total phase, when the moon is fully enveloped in Earth’s shadow, will last approximately one hour and 22 minutes.
The entire event, including the partial phases, will stretch just under five and a half hours. The eclipse progresses through penumbral and umbral stages, referring to the lighter outer and darker inner parts of Earth’s shadow, respectively.
This “blood moon” effect is a result of the sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere. Air molecules scatter blue light, leaving the remaining red light to reflect onto the moon’s surface.
Americans who missed this event can mark their calendars for the next total lunar eclipse, predicted for March 3, 2026, which will be visible across the Americas.