Today, a beautiful total lunar eclipse will turn the full moon into a deep red “blood moon” for nearly one hour.
The moon will slowly move into Earth’s shadow, changing from bright white to a striking reddish color. This happens because sunlight bends through Earth’s atmosphere, and only the red light reaches the moon.
The total phase, when the moon is fully covered by Earth’s shadow, will last about 58 minutes, from 1:44 PM to 4:05 PM Pakistan time. The whole eclipse, including the partial stages, will take around 5 hours.
More than 3 billion people can see at least part of this eclipse. It will be fully visible in eastern Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Pacific. In North America, people on the West Coast will see the beginning stages before moonset.
In Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, the moon will rise already in eclipse. Pakistan and South Asia will miss the full event, but some early morning viewers in western parts may catch the end.
The weather will play a big role. Clear skies are needed to enjoy the view. The red color can look different depending on dust or clouds in Earth’s air, sometimes bright copper, sometimes darker brick red.
This is one of the longest total lunar eclipses in recent years. The next major blood moon will come in 2028.
