On September 7, 2025, Ukrainians will witness a rare cosmic phenomenon — a total lunar eclipse, which will coincide with the September full moon.
When to watch
The eclipse will begin at 19:35 Kyiv time, peak at 21:11 and end around 23:55. The total duration of the phenomenon will be more than four hours, and the total eclipse phase will last 82 minutes - the longest since November 2022.
Astronomers estimate that more than 7 billion people around the world will be able to see this event. In Ukraine, the Moon will gradually take on a reddish-orange hue, which is why the phenomenon is called a “blood full moon.”.
The total eclipse will be visible in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America. The brightest “blood moon” will be visible in Australia, Asia, Africa and parts of Europe. In other regions, the moon will be only partially eclipsed.
Why does the Moon turn red?
During an eclipse, the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting the satellite into its own shadow. The sun's rays, passing through the Earth's atmosphere, are scattered: blue and violet are filtered out, while red and orange reach the Moon's surface. This process is known as Rayleigh scattering.
The color of the eclipsed Moon depends on the state of the atmosphere: dust, moisture, or smoke can make it darker, and sometimes a turquoise band is visible at the edges - an effect of the ozone layer. Therefore, each eclipse is unique in shades - from golden-red to dark copper.
Such phenomena occur several times a year, but long total eclipses visible almost all over the world are rare. For astronomers, they are a valuable opportunity to study the Earth's atmosphere, and for observers, they are one of the most beautiful celestial shows.
