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Watch out for rare Blood Moon on September 7
View(s):By Dilushi Wijesinghe
During the event, the earth will pass directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. At the peak of the eclipse, the Moon could appear a deep red colour, earning it the popular title of “Blood Moon”.
The eclipse will start at 8.58 p.m. when the Moon enters Earth’s penumbral shadow. The partial phase begins at 9.57 p.m., with totality starting at 11.01 p.m. and reaching its maximum at 11.41 p.m. Totality ends at 12.22 a.m. on September 8, followed by the partial phase ending at 1.26 a.m., and the penumbral shadow lifting at 2.25 a.m. The entire event will last five hours and 27 minutes, with totality spanning one hour and 22 minutes.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, astrophysicist Dr. Kavan Ratnatunga said, “One of the things to note is that this eclipse is 82 minutes long, which is very long for normal eclipses. Most of the recent ones have been much shorter. This will be a very good eclipse to see, depending on atmospheric conditions.”
Dr. Ratnatunga explained the red colour of the Moon during totality: “The red comes from reflected earth light. Sunlight passes through the earth’s atmosphere, which acts like a bright ring around the planet, and illuminates the moon. You see the same red at sunsets, and that same red light makes the moon glow.”
He also warned that weather conditions could affect visibility. “It seems to be raining in most parts of the country. If it is clear, it will be a spectacular sight. Most of Sri Lanka is travelable within a day, so it is worth going to Jaffna or other areas if the sky is not clear in Colombo,” he said.
Dr Ratnatunga highlighted the rarity of this eclipse. “The last total lunar eclipse we could see was in November 2022, and it was not as good as this one. The next good one will be on December 31, 2028.” He added that photography could be challenging, as the Moon will be high in the sky, but enthusiasts are encouraged to try.
Astronomers also note that this eclipse marks the first of the September 2025 eclipse season, with a partial solar eclipse following on September 21. Earlier this year, a total lunar eclipse occurred on March 13 and a partial solar eclipse on March 29, making 2025 a year of four major eclipses.
The eclipse will be visible across Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe, with partial phases extending to North America, South America, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic, and Antarctica. Globally, around 85 per cent of the population – some 7 billion people – are expected to see at least part of the eclipse, while 6.27 billion will witness the entire total phase. In Sri Lanka, the timing is particularly favourable, allowing observers to see the eclipse from start to finish.
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