Total lunar eclipse visible across the Eastern Hemisphere on Sept 7-8

Skywatchers across much of the Eastern Hemisphere will be treated to a striking total lunar eclipse on the night of September 7 into the morning of September 8, when the full Moon passes through Earths shadow and is expected to take on a coppery to deep red hue known as a Blood Moon. The eclipse begins at 15:28 Coordinated Universal Time, totality starts at 17:30 UTC and will last about 82 minutes, with the entire event, from first to last penumbral contact, running roughly five hours and 27 minutes, officials said.

The phenomenon occurs when Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon and casts its umbra, or deepest shadow, across the lunar surface. Specialists at the Natural History Museum explained, "The Moon turns red during an eclipse because of how the Suns light interacts with Earths atmosphere." Shorter blue wavelengths are scattered out, while longer red wavelengths are refracted into Earths shadow and onto the Moon, producing the rusty tones observers will see. The precise color and brightness during totality will depend on current atmospheric conditions; dust, clouds and wildfire smoke can make the Moon appear anywhere from bright cherry red to a dull brick brown.