Blood Moon Eclipse to Dazzle the Skies This Weekend
A rare and breathtaking event is set to unfold in the skies this weekend — a total lunar eclipse, famously known as a “blood moon.” While much of the world will be able to witness it, unfortunately, it will not be visible from Canada this time around. Still, the spectacle is expected to capture global attention as Earth, the moon, and the sun align in perfect harmony.
Here’s how it works: during a lunar eclipse, the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon. As that happens, Earth’s shadow is cast across the moon’s surface. To the naked eye, it looks like a slow-motion vanishing act. A shadow gradually creeps across the moon, giving the illusion that a dark bite is being taken out of it. Eventually, the shadow covers the moon entirely, creating what astronomers call “totality.” This particular eclipse is expected to last more than five hours from start to finish, with the full total eclipse phase lasting about one hour and twenty-two minutes — a fairly long show for skywatchers.
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But why is it called a blood moon? The answer lies in Earth’s atmosphere. When sunlight filters around our planet and reaches the moon, the atmosphere scatters the shorter blue wavelengths of light while allowing the longer red and orange wavelengths to bend through. That reddish glow is then projected onto the moon’s surface, giving it a haunting, coppery-red appearance. Depending on conditions, the moon can appear anywhere from a fiery orange to a deep reddish brown.
This time, the best views will be from Asia, stretching from Saudi Arabia across to the Philippines, as far north as the Arctic Ocean and as far south as Antarctica. Large parts of East Africa and Australia will also have excellent vantage points, while some regions of Europe, Africa, and South America will catch only a partial glimpse. For those in Canada, the timing is less than ideal since the eclipse will take place during daylight hours, meaning it will be hidden below the horizon.
Astronomers remind us that lunar eclipses are not all that rare, occurring roughly every six months when the orbits of the Earth and moon align just right with the sun. However, whether one can be seen depends entirely on location and timing. The next opportunity for Canadians to catch such an event will be in March 2026, when parts of Northwestern Canada will be treated to a partial view. Another more widely visible eclipse is expected on December 31, 2028, ringing in the new year with a celestial show.
So, while this weekend’s blood moon won’t be visible everywhere, it is still a reminder of the grand choreography of the cosmos. For those lucky enough to be under the right night skies, it will be a sight to remember — the moon transformed into a glowing red orb, a spectacle written in the stars.
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