Stargazers across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia are set to witness a spectacular total lunar eclipse on september 7, 2025, as the full Corn Moon passes completely into Earth's shadow. The event, often called a "blood moon" for the dramatic reddish color the moon can take on, will provide a stunning celestial show for the eastern hemisphere, though it will not be visible from the United States or the rest of the Americas.
The astronomical phenomenon will last for several hours, with its most dramatic phase—totality—spanning approximately 82 minutes. This makes it the longest total lunar eclipse since 2022. During this time, the Earth will be positioned directly between the sun and the moon, and the only sunlight reaching the lunar surface will be what has been filtered and refracted through our planet's atmosphere. This process strips away most of the blue light, bathing the moon in a coppery or deep red glow.
Global visibility guide
Visibility of the eclipse is entirely dependent on geographic location. Observers in Asia, from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines, and those in the western half of Australia will have a prime view of the entire event from beginning to end.
Other regions will experience a partial show:
* Europe and Africa: Most of these continents will see the eclipse in progress as the moon rises in the evening sky.
* Eastern Australia and New Zealand: Viewers here will be able to see most phases of the eclipse.
* Brazil and Alaska: Parts of these regions may catch a glimpse of only the very beginning or end of the eclipse as the moon sets or rises.
According to NASA's forecast, the entire eclipse will occur during daylight hours for North and South America, making it impossible to observe from these continents.
Eclipse timeline (UTC)
For those in the viewing area, here is the detailed timeline of the eclipse in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for september 7, 2025:
* Penumbral eclipse begins: 15:28 UTC
* Partial eclipse begins: 16:27 UTC
* Total eclipse begins: 17:30 UTC
* Maximum eclipse: 18:11 UTC
* Total eclipse ends: 18:52 UTC
* Partial eclipse ends: 19:56 UTC
* Penumbral eclipse ends: 20:55 UTC
How to watch
Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope without any special filters. For the best experience, viewers should find a location away from city lights with a clear, unobstructed view of the eastern horizon.
For the millions of people in the Americas or those who may be affected by poor weather, several online platforms will host live streams of the event. The Virtual Telescope Project and timeanddate.com are expected to provide live, narrated coverage, allowing anyone with an internet connection to witness the celestial alignment. The Virtual Telescope Project's feed is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. EDT.