On early Monday morning, Sept. 8 Australians are in for a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical treat. Plus, it’ll be a total lunar eclipse—which is commonly called a Blood Moon! The incredible phenomenon happens when Earth’s shadow completely covers the Moon, drowning it in a marvelous red color. This beautiful coloring is the result of a process called Rayleigh scattering. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, the blue wavelengths are scattered, allowing only the red to pass.
The Blood Moon will be observable from around 3:30 AM to approximately 5 AM AEST, lasting about 90 minutes in total. It would be Australia’s first total lunar eclipse since November 2022. If you love stargazing or astrophotography, then you’re in for a special treat!
Astrophysicist, Dr. Laura Driessen, made clear that the event would be highly visible. “It’ll be quite high in the sky when it starts … it’ll be really bright and really obvious,” she stated. Luckily, the eclipse will be particularly bright for viewers in Adelaide and places westward. Most importantly, they’ll get to experience the whole event from beginning to end.
Understanding the Blood Moon
The term Blood Moon is a proper one in that it describes the color of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse. As the Moon slips into the Earth’s shadow, it experiences a beautiful metamorphosis. That’s because Rayleigh scattering is responsible for imparting the intense blue color we all love. The same effect is responsible for sunsets often appearing red. You may recognize it from the color of the skies following intense fires or volcanic eruptions.
Dr. Driessen described how this process works, sharing that Rayleigh scattering is key to creating this colorful scene. “The best thing about lunar eclipses is you don’t need anything special. You just need your eyes,” she noted. This open accessibility lets everyone experience the wonder without needing special protective gear.
Total lunar eclipses—often called Blood Moons—happen about once every year or so. These events go in cycles. To understand this cycle, you have to go all the way back to the precise alignment required for a total eclipse to unfold. “They tend to be paired up because we need to have that alignment where everything is in a flat line together,” Dr. Driessen explained.
Best Viewing Practices
To effectively view the Blood Moon, Australians need only their eyes, though some may wish to enhance their experience with photography. For those interested in capturing the event, Dr. Driessen recommends using a tripod or finding a way to stabilize the camera.
“The best time to take a photo is when the Moon is red and as close to when it sets as possible,” she advised. With this technique, you can get jaw-dropping pictures of the eclipse as it changes the environment of the night sky.
Weather will be a big factor in whether or not you get to enjoy the spectacle. Australians can check live cloud cover across the country on the Bureau of Meteorology’s website to determine optimal viewing locations. “If it’s cloudy for that one and you didn’t get up for this one, then you’ll have to wait till the end of 2028,” Dr. Driessen cautioned.
Future Lunar Events
Looking forward, Australians wanting more sky spectacles will have to wait until March 3, 2026 for the next total lunar eclipse. According to Dr. Driessen, this next eclipse will be in the evening, allowing for many more potential observers to experience it.
“The next one will be an evening one, so it’ll be a bit easier to see,” she said, providing hope for those who may miss the Blood Moon on September 8.
