Pakistan along with other Asian countries, Western Australia, and parts of Africa and Europe are set to witness one of the most breathtaking celestial shows of the decade as on Sunday, September 7, the Moon will pass into Earth’s shadow, turning a striking shade of red during a rare total lunar eclipse, commonly known as a Blood Moon.
What is a Blood Moon?
When earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon during a lunar eclipse, casting its darkest shadow on the lunar surface, it results in a phenomenon called “Blood Moon”.
During this phase, the Moon appears red as Earth’s atmosphere filters sunlight—scattering blue light and letting red wavelengths pass through. This effect, called Rayleigh scattering, gives the Moon its dramatic hue and inspires the term “Blood Moon.”
Where will it be visible?
- Best View: Asia including Pakistan, Western Australia.
- Partial Visibility: Eastern Australia, New Zealand, parts of Europe, and Africa.
When to watch
The specific time of the eclipse, including totality and moonset, will vary depending on your location. For example, in some regions of the United Kingdom, totality occurred between 06:26 GMT and 07:05 GMT on Friday, March 14, 2025, with the moon setting at varying times.
Visibility in Pakistan
The total lunar eclipse on September 7–8, 2025, will be fully visible in Pakistan, including in Karachi. The total duration of the eclipse will be over five hours.
Visibility timeline in Pakistan
- Penumbral Eclipse Begins: Sunday, September 7, at 8:28 p.m.
- Partial Eclipse Begins: Sunday, September 7, at 9:27 p.m. The moon will start to take on a reddish hue.
- Total Eclipse Begins: Sunday, September 7, at 10:30 p.m. The moon will be completely red.
- Maximum Eclipse: Sunday, September 7, at 11:11 p.m. The moon will be closest to the center of Earth’s shadow.
- Total Eclipse Ends: Sunday, September 7, at 11:52 p.m.
- Partial Eclipse Ends: Monday, September 8, at 12:56 a.m.
- Penumbral Eclipse Ends: Monday, September 8, at 1:55 a.m.
How to watch
- No special equipment is needed: The blood moon can be seen safely with the naked eye.
- Find a clear view: For the best experience, find a dark location with an unobstructed view of the sky, away from city lights.
- Karachi-specific event: The Karachi Astronomers Society is hosting a live viewing event with telescopes at the PIA Planetarium from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on September 7.
