A deep red moon will light up the skies on Sunday evening, as a total lunar eclipse passes over much of Asia and stretches into Europe and Africa.
When the Sun, Earth and Moon align, the planet’s shadow falls across its satellite. Instead of going dark, the Moon turns a coppery red, a sight that has fascinated people for centuries.
The eclipse will begin at 5:30 p.m. GMT and last just under 90 minutes. The best views will be in Asia, particularly India and China. The eastern edge of Africa and western Australia will also catch the full event. In Europe and parts of Africa, skywatchers will see only a partial eclipse as the Moon rises. The Americas will miss out entirely.
The phenomenon, known as a “Blood Moon,” is caused by the way Earth’s atmosphere bends and scatters sunlight. “Blue light is scattered more strongly than red, so the red light makes it through and paints the Moon,” explained Ryan Milligan, an astrophysicist at Queen’s University Belfast.
Unlike solar eclipses, which require protective glasses, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye — provided skies are clear.
The last total lunar eclipse occurred in March. Milligan called this weekend’s display a “warm-up act” for next year, when a rare total solar eclipse will cross mainland Europe on August 12, 2026.
That event, the first of its kind in the region since 2006, will be visible in a narrow band of Spain and Iceland, though large parts of Europe will still see a partial eclipse. “It’s what many of us are already planning for,” Milligan said.
For now, though, Sunday’s Blood Moon offers a chance to look up, pause, and watch the night sky turn red.
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