What Actually Happens During a Total Lunar Eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves precisely between the Sun and the Moon. While you might expect the Moon to disappear completely as it slips into Earth’s shadow, something far more beautiful happens: the Moon glows a deep red or orange, often called a “blood moon”.

This isn’t a rare magic trick. Lunar eclipses are a regular part of skywatching, but total eclipses—where the whole Moon is covered—are less common, occurring only a couple of times each year. The eclipse on September 7, 2025, is particularly notable for its long totality of 82 minutes and global visibility.

Why Does the Moon Look Red Instead of Black?

You’d think that when Earth blocks the Sun, the Moon would go entirely dark. Instead, it glows a haunting, coppery red. The explanation is pure science and a little bit of planetary teamwork.

Earth’s Atmosphere Is the Secret Ingredient

As the Moon passes through the darkest part of Earth’s shadow—called the umbra—the only sunlight that reaches the Moon has traveled through Earth’s atmosphere first. This journey bends and filters the light, removing the shorter blue wavelengths and letting through the longer red and orange wavelengths.

In other words, sunlight passes through a “ring” of Earth’s air. The bluer, shorter rays scatter (the same phenomenon that colors our daytime sky blue and sunsets orange/red), whereas the redder rays bend around the globe and spill onto the Moon’s surface. That’s why people all over the world see the Moon glowing red during the eclipse—it’s lit by every sunrise and sunset on Earth, all at once.

The Science: Rayleigh Scattering and Blood Moons

This filtering process is known as Rayleigh scattering—the same effect that gives us blue skies and those stunning red sunsets. When the Moon is inside the umbra, it catches sunlight that’s been bent through mammoth slabs of our planet’s air, with all the blue stripped out and only red and orange left to paint the lunar surface.

The term “blood moon” is popular, but not scientific. It’s just a poetic way of describing the result of this beautiful atmospheric chemistry.

Why the Color Varies Each Eclipse

Not every lunar eclipse looks the same. Sometimes the Moon shows a brighter orange; other times, it’s a dark rusty red. Volcanoes, wildfires, dust storms, and even local weather can all affect the clarity and color of the Earth’s shadow. For example, after a major volcanic eruption, there’s so much dust in the air that the Moon can appear an eerie, deep red or even brown.

A Universal Story in the Night Sky

One of the coolest things about a lunar eclipse is that it’s safe to watch with the naked eye—no fancy glasses needed! The next time you see the Moon turning red, remember: you’re looking at sunlight that’s passed through every sunrise and sunset on the planet, refracted and projected 380,000 km onto the Moon’s surface.

Fun Fact: If you were standing on the Moon during the eclipse, you’d see a ring of red light outlining Earth—a sight of all the sunsets and sunrises happening at that moment.

If you’re the kind of person who looks up at night just in case something magical’s happening, September is about to be your month. For seasoned stargazers, casual phone photographers, and everyone who’s just curious about what’s actually up there, here’s your guide to the most unmissable celestial events in September 2025.

Let’s face it: after a wild summer, we could all use a reason to stand outside at midnight and remember how cool the universe really is.

September’s Top Sky Events (Mark Your Calendar!)

Total Lunar Eclipse — September 7

Call your friends, grab your favorite snacks—this is the big one. On the 7th, India and much of Asia will get a front-row seat to a total lunar eclipse. The best part? It’s happening at a comfortable evening hour for most of us. The moon will turn that classic coppery “blood moon” red, and you don’t need any fancy gear—just clear skies and maybe a pair of binoculars to see craters in vivid detail. Don’t forget to make a wish. (I always do. Can’t prove it works, but hey—what if?)

• Peak Time (India): Around 8:45 PM IST
• How to Watch: Find a dark spot, give yourself about 30 minutes to adjust your eyes, and look up!
• Photographer Tip: Set your phone on Night Mode, brace against a wall, and you’ll get surprisingly good shots.

The Pleiades & A Rare Lunar Occultation — September 12

Star lore fans and night owls, this one’s for you. The Pleiades, often called the Seven Sisters, are a beautiful open star cluster in Taurus. On the night of the 12th, the moon will pass directly in front of (or “occult”) them. It’s a subtle, magical event that looks stunning through binoculars.

• Peak Time: Roughly 10-11 PM IST
• Where to Look: Towards the eastern sky, after moonrise
• Why It Matters: Lunar occultations of the Pleiades are rare and mesmerizing, like the universe is showing off just for you.

Saturn at Opposition — September 21

Saturn lovers, this is your night. When a planet’s at “opposition,” it’s closest to Earth and shines brightest for the year. Saturn will rise with the sun setting and is visible all night long—big, bright, and ringed. Even a small telescope or powerful binoculars should let you glimpse the rings, which never gets old.

• Pro Tip: Point your phone camera through the telescope eyepiece for easy astro-photography.
• Bonus: Look for Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, as a small pinprick of light nearby.

Equinox & Changing Seasons — September 23

Not as “wow” visually, but astronomically important. The autumnal equinox is when day and night are (basically) equal length all over the world. In India, this means the end of the rainy season and slightly cooler nights. The Milky Way is still visible overhead in the early evening, especially if you can get away from city lights.

Other Stealthy Sky Attractions

• Pre-dawn Venus: The “Morning Star” will be dazzling before sunrise all month.
• Orionids Meteor Shower (Early Preview): The real peak is in October, but you might spot a few early stragglers after midnight in the last week of September.
• ISS Flyovers: Check an app like Heavens-Above for when the International Space Station passes overhead—it moves fast and looks like a bright, steady “star” gliding by.

Pro Tips for First-Time Skywatchers

• App Up: Download a free sky map app (like Stellarium or SkySafari) and point your phone at the sky to ID stars and planets instantly.
• Red Flashlight: Use red cellophane on your torch if you’re night-watching; red light won’t wreck your night vision.
• Safety First: If you’re heading outside late, go with a friend and tell someone where you’re going. Snacks are highly recommended. 😉
• Photo Challenge: Tag your best snaps #SeptemberSkyWatch—there’s always a community eager to geek out with you.

Why September 2025 Is Special

Celestial events come in cycles, but combos like a total lunar eclipse and a rare star occultation in the same month? That’s a treat. Whether you’re making it a solo adventure, a family activity, or a date, September’s sky show has a little something for everyone.

In a world full of distractions, looking up is still the best kind of reset.

Let me know if you catch something amazing—or if you just want to share a blurry moon photo (we’ve all been there). Clear skies!

In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists have launched the world’s first wooden satellite into space to explore the material’s suitability for orbit. Named LignoSat, derived from the Latin for “wood,” the satellite was sent into space on a SpaceX mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday. It will later be deployed into orbit, where researchers will observe how the wood withstands the extreme conditions of space over a period of six months.

The initiative, a collaboration between Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, began in 2020. In 2022, they conducted exposure tests aboard the ISS for over 240 days, ultimately selecting Hoonoki, a type of Magnolia wood known for its strength, stability, and workability. This wood is traditionally used in Japan for crafting sword sheaths due to its shatter-resistant properties, according to Reuters.

Since space is devoid of water and oxygen, the wood is shielded from fire and decay, Kyoto University scientists explain. Additionally, they will evaluate the wood’s potential to protect semiconductors from space radiation, Reuters reports.

“If our wooden satellite succeeds, we plan to propose it to Elon Musk’s SpaceX,” said Takao Doi, an astronaut and professor at Kyoto University. The team envisions that wooden satellites could reduce space pollution, as they would not emit aluminum oxide when burning up upon re-entry, unlike traditional metal satellites. Over the next 50 years, Doi’s team envisions growing wood for timber-based habitats on the Moon and Mars. “With timber, a material we can cultivate ourselves, we could construct homes and sustain life in space indefinitely,” Doi told Reuters.