Blood Moon to Rise on Sunday Over 85% of the World's Population
Christy Bowen
YesterdayBillions of people around the world will be in for a treat on Sunday when a total lunar eclipse unfolds. Is your area in the path of this celestial wonder? Here is what you need to know about the upcoming Blood Moon.
Details of Sunday's Total Lunar Eclipse
About 85% of the total world's population will be in the path of the Blood Moon lunar eclipse. The moon is expected to turn a dark red hue for over an hour on Sunday night, marking the second and last total lunar eclipse of 2025.
Unfortunately for those in North America and South America, the eclipse will be over prior to the moon rising on Sunday evening. However, residents in Asia, Africa, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. Because these continents are home to some of the planet's most populated regions, most of the world will catch a glimpse of the beauty.
The total eclipse will begin at 17:30 UTC, lasting for 1 hour and 22 minutes before ending at 18:52 UTC. The best time to try to catch the view during this time period will be at the midway point of the eclipse at 18:11 UTC. Additionally, a partial lunar eclipse will happen in the minutes leading up and just after the total phase of the cycle.
A total lunar eclipse takes shape when the moon, the sun, and Earth all align in a way that the moon is covered by Earth's shadow. The type of total lunar eclipse happening on Sunday is commonly referred to as a Blood Moon. This is a nod to the deep red color that the moon takes on during the peak of the phase.
The color change is triggered by the Earth. This happens because the only amount of light that reaches the moon during totality must first pass through the atmosphere, distorting the natural color. The result is a hue that is similar to what is often observed during colorful sunrises and sunsets.
Sunday's total eclipse will take place during the last full moon before the astronomical summer fades to the astronomical fall on September 22. The last eclipse of this nature happened on March 13 and 14 across North and South America. The Earth sees an average of 1.5 total eclipses in any given year.