Watchers across Asia, Australia, Africa and eastern Europe should be able to see a total lunar eclipse on Sept. 7–8, 2025, as Earth’s shadow progressively darkens the full moon and briefly turns it a deep red during an approximately 82‑minute totality.
Key takeaways
- The eclipse is visible in full across large parts of Asia, western Australia and eastern Europe; some countries (for example, Spain and Norway) will see only a partial eclipse.
- The penumbral phase begins on Sept. 7 at 11:28 a.m. EDT (15:28 GMT); the umbral (partial) phase follows at 12:27 p.m. EDT (16:27 GMT), per published schedules.
- Totality is expected to start at 1:30 p.m. EDT (17:30 GMT) and last about 82 minutes, with maximum eclipse around 2:11 (18:11 GMT) according to Time and Date.
- The moon’s red color during totality is sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere; its brightness and hue vary with global atmospheric conditions and dust.
- Lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes — no special solar filters are required.
- If you cannot view locally, several organizations provide free live streams of the event.
Verified facts
A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting the moon into Earth’s full shadow (the umbra). During totality, sunlight that has been filtered and refracted by Earth’s atmosphere illuminates the lunar surface with reddish tones; observers commonly call this a “blood moon.”
Visible-area estimates indicate over 7 billion people live in regions where at least part of the eclipse can be seen. The most complete views are expected across Asia, western Australia and eastern Europe; western parts of Europe and some northern latitudes will see only partial phases.
Key event times published for Sept. 7 (all times shown in EDT and GMT as reported):
| Phase | Reported time (EDT) | Reported time (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Penumbral begins | 11:28 a.m. EDT | 15:28 GMT |
| Umbral (partial) begins | 12:27 p.m. EDT | 16:27 GMT |
| Totality begins | 1:30 p.m. EDT | 17:30 GMT |
| Maximum (reported) | 2:11 a.m. EDT | 18:11 GMT |
| Eclipse ends | 4:55 p.m. EDT | 20:55 GMT |
Time and Date lists totality lasting about 82 minutes. Observers should confirm local start and end times for their exact longitude and time zone using a trusted eclipse timetable before planning viewing or photography sessions.
Context & impact
Total lunar eclipses are widely accessible public sky events: unlike solar eclipses, they do not require eye protection. That accessibility makes them useful outreach opportunities for planetariums, amateur astronomy clubs and educators to engage broad audiences.
Photographers and scientists watch total lunar eclipses for both aesthetic and research reasons. The changing brightness and color across the lunar disk carry information about Earth’s atmosphere — particularly the presence of aerosols or volcanic dust that can deepen or dim the red coloration.
For many viewers, the logistical impact is minimal: dress for the local night temperature, bring binoculars or a small telescope if available, and check local cloud forecasts. For media and outreach organizations, the event provides a chance to host livestreams and community viewing events.
Official statements
The lunar eclipse can be observed safely without special eye protection; binoculars or a small telescope will enhance surface detail but are not required.
NASA
Unconfirmed or inconsistent items
- Reported times include an apparent inconsistency: the maximum eclipse time is listed as “2:11 a.m. EDT (18:11 GMT)” in some schedules, which conflicts with the sequence of earlier EDT timestamps. Observers should verify local times from authoritative timetables (see Sources).
- Predicted brightness and color during totality depend on real‑time atmospheric conditions (clouds, aerosol load, volcanic ash) and cannot be forecast precisely in advance.
Bottom line
The Sept. 7–8 total lunar eclipse will be a prominent sky event across much of Asia, Australia, Africa and eastern Europe; it is safe and straightforward to observe. Confirm local timing, check the weather, and consider joining a livestream if local viewing is prevented by daylight or clouds.