Stargazers throughout Pakistan are preparing for a remarkable astronomical event tonight: a total lunar eclipse that will transform the moon into a reddish “Blood Moon.” The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has confirmed that the entire celestial phenomenon will be clearly visible across the country, weather permitting. This event will also be observable from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas, with viewers in Asia being ideally positioned for the best sight.
The eclipse will unfold over several hours. The moon’s brightness will begin to fade at 8:28 PM (PST). The partial eclipse, where the Earth’s shadow starts to creep across the lunar surface, will commence at 9:27 PM. The highly anticipated total eclipse phase, when the moon is fully engulfed in shadow and takes on its signature crimson glow, will begin at 10:31 PM. It will reach its peak at 11:12 PM and conclude at 11:53 PM. The partial eclipse will then continue until 12:57 AM, with the entire event concluding by 1:55 AM on September 8.
The moon’s red appearance is caused by a process known as Rayleigh scattering. As sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue wavelengths are scattered outward, while longer red wavelengths are bent, or refracted, around the planet, casting a dim red light onto the moon’s surface. Unlike solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye; no special glasses or equipment are required.
This event serves as a prelude to other upcoming eclipses. Later this month, on September 21-22, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Furthermore, astrophysicists are already looking ahead to August 12, 2026, when a rare total solar eclipse will be visible in a narrow band across Spain and Iceland, offering the next major celestial spectacle for eclipse chasers.
