This weekend, 7–8 September, there's a 'blood Moon' total lunar eclipse visible, and India will be one of the best countries to see it.
Observers all across India will be able to see the full lunar eclipse from start to finish, watching as Earth's shadow begins to creep across the surface of the Moon.
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What causes a lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, and observers are able to watch as Earth's shadow creeps across the lunar surface.
If you're in the right location during a total lunar eclipse, you'll be able to see the entire event.
Initially, Earth's shadow begins to take a 'bite' out of the Moon.
That shadow grows larger and larger across the lunar surface, eventually basking the whole of the Earth-facing side of the Moon in shade.
Sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere is refracted before hitting the Moon, causing the Moon to appear a dark, rusty red colour.
A lunar eclipse is a beautiful sight, but also a chance to observe the clockwork motion of the Solar System in action.
We can actually see the effect of sunlight hitting the Moon, and how our own planet casts a shadow on the lunar surface.
You don't need any special equipment to see a lunar eclipse; it's safe to see with the naked eye.
You may want to capture a photo of it. For advice on this, read our guide on how to photograph a lunar eclipse.
The September 2025 blood Moon over India
A lunar eclipse isn't visible from every part of the world, but there's always a defined region where the whole eclipse can be seen from start to finish.
For the 7 September total lunar eclipse, the whole event is visible across India, from the point when Earth's shadow begins to move across the Moon, through totality and to the point where Earth's shadow finally leaves the lunar surface.
In India Standard Time, the lunar eclipse begins late on Sunday night, 7 September, and through to the early hours of Monday morning, 8 September.
The Moon will be high in the sky by the time the eclipse begins, and in the south, meaning it will be easy to spot even from built-up cities.
However, getting yourself away from built-up areas and light pollution should improve your view of the event.
Here are the key timings for the 7–8 September 2025 total lunar eclipse over India. 'PM' timings are for 7 September, and 'AM' timings are for 8 September.
- 8:58 PM IST – Penumbral eclipse begins
- 9:57 PM IST – Partial eclipse begins
- 11:00 PM IST – Total eclipse begins
- 11:41 PM IST – Maximum eclipse
- 12:22 AM IST – Total eclipse ends
- 1:26 AM IST – Partial eclipse ends
- 2:25 AM IST – Penumbral eclipse ends
If you manage to capture a photo of the lunar eclipse, share it with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
