On the night of September 7, 2025, people across India looked skyward to witness a rare celestial spectacle—a total lunar eclipse, popularly called the Blood Moon. The eclipse began with the Earth’s shadow touching the moon at 9:57 p.m., and by 11:01 p.m., the lunar disc was fully covered, glowing a dramatic copper-red for 82 minutes before gradually fading away.

From Ladakh to Tamil Nadu, stargazers gathered to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, though cloudy monsoon skies dampened visibility in several regions. Still, many astronomy groups, including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, live-streamed the event from observatories in Bengaluru, Ladakh, and Tamil Nadu, allowing enthusiasts nationwide to follow the eclipse in real time.

Scientists explained the reddish tint as sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the moon’s surface, scattering shorter wavelengths and leaving behind shades of red and orange. “The Moon was fully eclipsed from 11:01 p.m. to 12:23 a.m., making this one of the longest total eclipses seen from India since 2022,” said Niruj Mohan Ramanujam of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.

The eclipse was visible not just in India but also across Asia, parts of Europe, Africa, and western Australia. For Indian viewers, this marked the first nationwide total lunar eclipse since 2018. The next such event will be visible on December 31, 2028.

Unlike solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse can be safely observed with the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes—no protective gear required. Despite the clouds, the sight of the moon turning red left many skywatchers spellbound, reminding us once again of the awe nature inspires.