This Sunday, September 7, 2025, the sky will give us one of the most anticipated astronomical spectacles: a total lunar eclipse, known as Blood Moon. For more than an hour, the Earth's shadow will cover our satellite, which will be dyed an intense reddish color due to the effect of the atmosphere. Although Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania will enjoy the phenomenon in its entirety, the Canary Islands will live a very special experience.
In the islands, the Moon will appear on the eastern horizon already immersed in the totality phase, showing from the first moment its characteristic red tone. It will be a unique moment, as the satellite will rise over the Atlantic in all its eclipsed splendor, offering an unforgettable landscape for both occasional observers and astronomy lovers.
Of course, the maximum of the eclipse, which will occur around 18:12 UTC, will take place before the Moon rises in the Canary Islands. Even so, from around 19:30 local time you can see the Blood Moon on the horizon, and later follow its partial phase until almost 22:00. A celestial spectacle that will make the Canarian sky, once again, a privileged setting to look at the universe.
Tips for observing the lunar eclipse
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with the naked eye. No eye protection is needed, although binoculars or a telescope allow you to better appreciate the nuances of color and the lunar surface.
Those who want to photograph the Blood Moon can use a tripod and long exposure to capture the intensity of the red, especially at the time of maximum.
A unique astronomical phenomenon in 2025
This will be the second and last total lunar eclipse of 2025, and also the longest, with a totality phase that will last for 82 minutes. In addition, it will occur with the Moon near perigee (its closest point to Earth), which will make it look larger in the sky. During the total eclipse, the satellite will not be completely dark, since the refraction of sunlight in the Earth's atmosphere will turn the Moon red.
