Damon Mcknight
On the night of September 7, 2025, people in Australia were treated to a rare celestial event: a blood moon. This occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth, Moon and Sun are perfectly aligned, and the Moon is cast in a blood-like hue. The Moon remained visible during the eclipse, as some of the Sun's light refracted through Earth's atmosphere and hit the Moon before reflecting back to the surface of the Earth. The blood moon was also visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 7-8 September 2025 |
| Time | 2:30 am to 5:00 am AEST |
| Duration | 82 minutes |
| Colour | Red, crimson, orange |
| Type | Total lunar eclipse |
| Visibility | Visible in Australia and New Zealand |
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What You'll Learn
blood-moon''>The moon was a 'blood moon'
The moon was a blood moon. This phenomenon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the moon is perfectly aligned behind Earth, relative to the sun. The moon appears red because, as it passes into the Earth's shadow, only redder-coloured light is able to penetrate our planet's atmosphere and reach the moon's surface. Blues and violets, which have shorter wavelengths, scatter more easily, so they do not reach the moon during an eclipse. The more dust or clouds in the Earth's atmosphere, the redder the moon appears.
Blood moons are so-called because of the red hue that the moon takes on during an eclipse. This red colouring is caused by sunlight passing through the Earth's atmosphere on its way to the moon. As the light passes through the Earth's atmosphere, it is refracted, causing it to appear red. This is a phenomenon that stargazers around the world look out for.
Total lunar eclipses happen about once a year, but they are usually only visible from Australia every few years. The blood moon of 8 September 2025 was the only one that could be seen from Australia in 2025. The next total lunar eclipse visible from Australia will be on 3 March 2026.
The blood moon of 8 September 2025 was visible across Australia and New Zealand in the early hours of the morning. The moon was also approaching perigee—the point in its orbit when it is closest to Earth. Western Australia and parts of South Australia and the Northern Territory were able to see the whole eclipse through all its stages. Almost all of Australia saw the full lunar eclipse, with the east coast only missing out on the final part as the sun rose. New Zealanders did not get to see the whole eclipse because the moon had set before the eclipse finished.
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This was due to a total lunar eclipse
On the night of September 7, 2025, the Moon appeared as a "blood moon" in the skies over Australia. This was due to a total lunar eclipse.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are perfectly aligned, with the Earth positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment causes the Earth to cast its shadow on the Moon. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon is completely engulfed by the Earth's shadow, resulting in a distinctive red hue. This red coloration is due to the Earth's atmosphere refracting sunlight as it passes through, causing it to appear redder when it reaches the Moon. The Moon then reflects this red light back to Earth, creating the striking appearance of a "blood moon."
The "blood moon" of September 7, 2025, was visible across Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, the Moon turned red around 3:30 am AEST (1:30 am AWST). While New Zealanders could observe the partial eclipse, they missed the final stages as the Moon set before the eclipse finished. In contrast, Australians were treated to the entire eclipse, with the Moon entering the Earth's shadow, turning red, and then exiting the shadow. This was the first total lunar eclipse visible in Australia since 2022 and a rare opportunity to witness this celestial phenomenon.
Total lunar eclipses occur approximately once a year, but they are usually only visible from Australia every few years. The next total lunar eclipse visible from Australia will be on March 3, 2026, which will be best viewed from the east coast. Additionally, there will be another opportunity to observe a total lunar eclipse on December 31, 2028, which will be visible throughout the country.
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It was visible across Australia
On the night of September 7, 2025, the moon turned into a 'blood moon' as a result of a total lunar eclipse. This phenomenon occurs when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon. During this process, the Moon takes on a red hue due to the Earth's atmosphere bending sunlight and scattering its cooler colours, leaving only the fiery reds visible.
The 'blood moon' was visible across Australia, with the partial eclipse beginning at around 2:30 am on the east coast and the total eclipse lasting for about 90 minutes, from approximately 3:30 am to 5:00 am AEST. This was the first total lunar eclipse visible in Australia since 2022 and the only one that will occur in 2025. The next total lunar eclipse that will be visible across Australia will be on March 3, 2026.
The 'blood moon' was a spectacular sight for stargazers in Australia, with the Moon appearing in dramatic shades of red and orange. The event was also captured by photographers across the country, who shared stunning images of the lunar eclipse. The total lunar eclipse cast a crimson glow over Sydney, and the Moon was visible in various stages of the eclipse, from the partial obscuration during the transition to its totality.
The 'blood moon' lunar eclipse was a rare occurrence, with total lunar eclipses happening only about once a year and usually visible from Australia every few years. The visibility of the eclipse also depended on the weather conditions, with clear skies providing the best viewing experience. The 'blood moon' was a highly anticipated event in Australia, with many people staying up late or waking up early to catch a glimpse of this celestial spectacle.
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It was also visible in New Zealand, but only partially
On the night of September 7, 2025, a "blood moon" total lunar eclipse was visible in Australia and New Zealand. This phenomenon occurs when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon and giving it a distinct red hue. While Australians were able to witness the entire eclipse, New Zealanders only saw a partial eclipse as the Moon had set before the event finished.
The Moon appeared red during the eclipse because, as the Earth blocked the Sun's light from reaching the Moon, only the redder-coloured light was able to penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and reach the Moon. This is why the Moon took on a blood-like hue, giving rise to the term "blood moon". The more dust present in the Earth's atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the Moon appears.
The "blood moon" of September 7, 2025, was a particularly long total lunar eclipse, lasting approximately 82 minutes. It was visible to an estimated 5.8 billion people across the world, including those in Antarctica, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The next total lunar eclipse will occur on March 3, 2026 and will be visible over the Americas, the Pacific Islands, Asia, and Australia.
In New Zealand, the partial eclipse began around 2:30 am on September 7, with the Moon setting before the total eclipse was reached. This meant that New Zealanders only witnessed a portion of the Earth's shadow on the Moon, missing out on the full effect of the "blood moon". The total eclipse phase, when the entire Earth-facing side of the Moon is covered by the Earth's shadow, occurred at approximately 3:30 am AEST, after which the Moon was no longer visible from New Zealand.
The "blood moon" total lunar eclipse is a relatively rare event, occurring only about once a year, and it is even less frequent that it is visible from Australia and New Zealand. The last time a total lunar eclipse was visible from Australia was in 2022, and the next opportunity to view one will be in March 2026.
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The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2026
On the night of September 7, 2025, the moon turned a rusty red colour and was visible across Australia and New Zealand. This phenomenon is known as a "blood moon" and occurs when the Earth, Moon and Sun are perfectly aligned, with the Moon positioned directly behind the Earth relative to the Sun. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon darkens and takes on a reddish hue due to the Earth's atmosphere refracting sunlight.
The next total lunar eclipse will occur on March 2-4, 2026, and will be visible in North America, Asia-Pacific, and parts of Southeast Asia. This eclipse will be the first total lunar eclipse since the one visible in Australia and New Zealand in September 2025. During the March 2026 eclipse, the full "Worm Moon" will rise and then pass into the Earth's umbral shadow, causing it to dim and gradually turn reddish-orange. This reddish hue is what gives the eclipse the name "blood moon".
The entire eclipse, including the penumbral and partial phases, will last 5 hours and 38 minutes, with totality expected to last for 58 minutes. In the Asia-Pacific region, the eclipse will occur on the night of March 3-4, 2026. The following are the expected viewing times for several cities in Australia:
- Sydney: 10:04-11:02 p.m. AEDT on March 3, 2026
- Brisbane: 9:04-10:02 p.m. AEST on March 3, 2026
- Adelaide: 9:34-10:32 p.m. ACDT on March 3, 2026
- Darwin: 8:34-9:32 p.m. on March 3, 2026
- Perth: 7:04-8:02 p.m. on March 3, 2026
The March 2026 total lunar eclipse will be the last of its kind until December 31, 2028, when another total lunar eclipse will occur on New Year's Eve. This upcoming eclipse in 2026 will be a spectacular sight for astronomy enthusiasts and photographers alike, offering a unique opportunity to witness the Moon's transformation and capture stunning images of this celestial event.
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Frequently asked questions
On the night of 7 September 2025, the moon appeared as a 'blood moon' in Australia. This phenomenon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the moon is cast in a blood-like hue due to the Earth's atmosphere bending sunlight and scattering its cooler colours, leaving only fiery reds visible.
Total lunar eclipses, which cause blood moons, happen about once a year. However, they are usually only visible from Australia every few years. The next total lunar eclipse visible from Australia will be on 3 March 2026.
During a lunar eclipse, the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon's surface. As a result, the Moon appears red because only redder-coloured light can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and reach the Moon.
The blood moon of 7 September 2025 was visible to an estimated 5.8 billion people across multiple continents, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Here are some tips for capturing the blood moon with your phone:
- Use a tripod or find a way to keep your phone steady.
- Time your shot correctly—take the photo when the Moon is red and close to setting.
- Adjust your camera settings—use a wide-angle lens option or explore photography add-ons from the app store.
