Total lunar eclipse dazzles observers across the globe

On September 7, 2025, the world experienced a rare and beautiful event, with the sky being lit by a large, round shape hanging amongst the stars. A total lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon, was seen by millions of people across the globe, including on the continents of Asia, Africa, parts of Europe, and in Australia. Other places, such as Spain and Norway, were unfortunately only witnesses to a partial eclipse.

The whole world looks to the sky to witness pure magic – the blood moon

As though it were something out of a fantasy storybook, the blood moon is an incredible event that certain areas of the world experience, a total lunar eclipse. Although in some parts of Earth, the eclipse was not visible at all or only partially visible, people were still able to join in and see the event on livestream social media. This type of worldwide accessibility allowed not only enthusiasts but casual stargazers alike to share in the cosmic display, creating a sense of global community around a shared celestial phenomenon.

The blood moon is a cosmic event that is ‘naked-eye friendly’. This means that you can watch this moment unfold without worrying about protecting your eyes, regardless of its strong and shocking presentation. This is unlike a solar eclipse, which can damage your vision.

The science behind it: The celestial moment’s development and resolution

The moon’s closest point to Earth is called the perigee, and this eclipse occurred 2.7 days before the moon reached this point, which made the moon appear a little larger than on a normal night, contributing to its incomparable beauty. Along with this, the moon was sitting quite deep within the Earth’s shadow, or, in other words, the umbra. The position of the moon created a dark and mysterious red shade that lit up the night sky at different times across the globe.

As the stargazers of Earth watched, our planet’s shadow could be seen gently sweeping over the surface of the rock. The moon achieved what is known as ‘umbral entry’, a partial eclipse, at 12:27 PM EDT, moving into the Earth’s shadow. Although the full moon began at 01:30 EDT, the blood moon had reached its brightest and boldest point at approximately 02:11 AM EDT.

Looking forward: Earth’s astronomical events coming up in the future

Luckily for those who missed out on this dazzling experience, such as those in America, the blood moon will return in just a few months and will be visible to the United States from March 2 to 3, 2026. If the stunning view is available to you, it is suggested that you set your alarms and make sure to check the weather for any cloud coverage. This way, you can be sure not to miss the upcoming astronomical wonders.

The next full moon in America – called the harvest moon – will take place on October 6, 2025. On this date, it will be visible in Pennsylvania, United States at 11:48 PM local time.  Other magnificent celestial events (such as the disappearance of Earth’s “second moon”) are also expected in 2025, with seven major meteor showers expected. According to the American Meteor Society, the dates of the meteor showers will be as follows:

The copper shine of the moon and the blood moon’s ‘totality’ ended shortly at 04:55 PM EDT on this very special night. The next event worth noting is the partial solar eclipse on September 21, 2025. This event will be visible to those living in southern Australia, some Pacific islands, and Antarctica (which is currently on the verge of a climate tipping point). Don’t forget to clear your schedules and check your weather reports!