Total Lunar Eclipse Blood Moon This Weekend: What You Need to Know

URGENT UPDATE: A spectacular total lunar eclipse blood moon is set to occur this weekend, but unfortunately, it won’t be visible from Canada. The event will unfold between September 7 and September 8, 2025, during daytime hours in the country. The best views will be from regions in China, Russia, India, and Australia.

According to Dr. Ilana MacDonald, a communications strategist at the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth’s shadow obscures the full moon. “The Earth is going between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow onto the moon,” she explained. As the phenomenon progresses, viewers will see the moon gradually dim, resembling a bite being taken out of its surface.

Why the name “Blood Moon”? The term refers to the moon’s striking reddish hue during the eclipse. Dr. MacDonald noted that this coloration results from sunlight refracting through Earth’s atmosphere, which scatters blue light more effectively than red. This scattering creates a spectrum of colors on the moon, from dark orange to deep reddish-brown.

Lunar eclipses occur approximately every six months, contingent upon the precise alignment of the Earth and moon’s orbits with the sun. However, they aren’t always visible from the same location. In Canada, this weekend’s eclipse will take place when the moon is below the horizon, leaving many skywatchers disappointed.

Looking ahead, the next opportunity to witness a lunar eclipse in Canada will be in March 2026, but this will only be visible in Northwestern Canada. Following that, another eclipse is scheduled for December 31, 2028.

As excitement builds for this weekend’s event, many astronomy enthusiasts around the world are gearing up for a rare celestial spectacle. Don’t miss your chance to experience this incredible phenomenon, especially if you’re in the viewing regions!

Stay tuned for updates and share this news with fellow skywatchers eager to see the Blood Moon!