In conjunction with a rare total eclipse.. The blood moon adorns the sky of parts of the world

The world will witness an astonishing astronomical phenomenon on Sunday, September 7, which is the total lunar eclipse, during which the surface of the moon will turn a copper red color, in a phenomenon popularly known as the "blood moon".

The eclipse will be primarily visible in the continents of Asia and Australia, where the best viewing opportunities will be in countries like China and India, in addition to residents of East Africa and Western Australia. Meanwhile, the scene will be briefly visible in Europe as the moon rises in the evening, and it will be slightly observed in some parts of Africa.

This phenomenon occurs when the sun, earth, and moon align perfectly in a straight line, with the earth in the middle, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon. As the moon completely slides into the earth's shadow, it gradually loses its white shine and turns red.

Astronomers attribute this distinctive color to the scattering of light in the earth's atmosphere. Astrophysicist Ryan Milligan from the University of Belfast explains: "The only sunlight that reaches it (the moon) is reflected and scattered through the earth's atmosphere." He points out that "the blue wavelengths of light are shorter than the red wavelengths, making them easier to scatter as they pass through the earth's atmosphere. This is what gives the moon its blood-like red color."

Unlike a solar eclipse, viewing a lunar eclipse does not require any special protective equipment, as it is sufficient to be in a suitable geographical location with clear weather and a cloudless sky.

This eclipse is the second of its kind this year, following the eclipse in March. It also serves as a precursor to a major astronomical event expected on August 12, 2026, which is the total solar eclipse that will be fully visible in Spain and Iceland, and partially in other European countries, marking the first total solar eclipse in Europe since 2006.