The Moon will rise above the horizon just in time for the UK to see the total lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse is something you won’t want to miss this year.(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
The longest total lunar eclipse since 2022 will be visible in the coming months, the fascinating cosmic phenomenon will take place in September. Explaining what is meant by a total lunar eclipse, space agency NASA states: “The Moon moves into the inner part of Earth’s shadow, or the umbra. Some of the sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere reaches the Moon’s surface, lighting it dimly.
“Colours with shorter wavelengths ― the blues and violets ― scatter more easily than colours with longer wavelengths, like red and orange. Because these longer wavelengths make it through Earth’s atmosphere, and the shorter wavelengths have scattered away, the Moon appears orangish or reddish.”
On September 7, the Moon will rise above the horizon just in time for the UK to see the total lunar eclipse. According to Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) the eclipse’s maximum will happen at 7.33pm.
RMG says: “The eclipse’s maximum will occur at 7.33 pm BST, as the eclipse’s actual maximum at 7.11 pm happens when the Moon is below the horizon. The Moon will then gradually move out of Earth’s shadow until 9.55 pm.”
According to NASA, the Moon turns red during an eclipse because of how the Sun’s light interacts with Earth’s atmosphere. As the Sun hits the atmosphere, shorter wavelengths of light such as the colour blue are scattered outwards.
Longer wavelengths like red are bent or refracted into Earth’s umbra. When the wavelengths of light hit the surface of the Moon, they can make it appear red.
During September’s eclipse, the Moon will appear in a red hue because it will be “illuminated ” by the light that has passed through the Earth’s atmosphere and bent back towards the Moon by refraction. You should find a high point with a clear view to the east to see this eclipse.
NASA has shared tips for how to stargaze properly, they suggest you need dark skies away from city lights to see more stars. The space agency adds: “Getting farther way from population centres is key.
“There are some other factors that can enhance your stargazing. Being at higher altitude helps, because you’ll be above the dense air at low altitudes that contains hazes, fog, and smoke that mask your view of the stars.”
Unlike a solar eclipse, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye. This is because lunar eclipses only reflect sunlight – they don’t get any brighter than a full Moon.
A lunar eclipse can last several hours, but the period of totality, which is when the Moon is completely in Earth’s shadow, usually only lasts an hour or so.
Upcoming lunar eclipses:
September 7, 2025 – Total (visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia)
March 3, 2026 – Total (visible in East Asia, Australia, Pacific, Americas)
August 28, 2026 – Partial (visible in East Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa)
NASA states: “Lunar eclipses occur at the full moon phase. When Earth is positioned precisely between the Moon and Sun, Earth’s shadow falls upon the surface of the Moon, dimming it and sometimes turning the lunar surface a striking red over the course of a few hours. Each lunar eclipse is visible from half of Earth.”