A striking astronomical event is set to grace the UK skies next week as a total lunar eclipse—commonly referred to as a Blood Moon—turns the Moon a deep crimson. This rare celestial occurrence happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align perfectly, casting the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, the umbra, over the Moon. As a result, the Moon takes on a reddish hue due to sunlight refracting through Earth’s atmosphere.
The upcoming eclipse will be visible across the UK on 7 September 2025. However, it may be challenging to view due to the Moon’s low position on the horizon and potential cloud cover. The Royal Observatory Greenwich advises stargazers to seek out a high vantage point with a clear view to the East for the best chance of witnessing the event. The eclipse will reach its maximum at 7.11pm BST—though the Moon will still be below the horizon at that time. It will rise into view shortly after, with the most visible phase occurring around 7.33pm. The eclipse will conclude by 9.55pm.
This will be the first total lunar eclipse visible from the UK since May 2022. The next partial eclipse will occur on 28 August 2026, while the following total eclipses are expected on 21 December 2028 and 14 June 2031.
There are various types of lunar eclipses, but the total eclipse is the most dramatic. Unlike the faint penumbral eclipse or the partial eclipse—where only part of the Moon darkens—a total eclipse bathes the entire Moon in a reddish glow. This eerie effect is caused by sunlight bending through Earth’s atmosphere and filtering out blue light, leaving only red tones to illuminate the Moon.
Astronomers encourage the public to mark their calendars and prepare for a potentially awe-inspiring night of skywatching, weather permitting.
