By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Blood Moon’ Seen Across Africa and Europe During Total Lunar Eclipse
A total lunar eclipse on Sunday night produced a “Blood Moon,” delighting stargazers across Africa, Europe, Asia, and parts of western Australia.
The eclipse, which ran from 17:30 GMT to 18:52 GMT, occurred when Earth aligned between the Sun and the Moon, casting a reddish shadow over the lunar surface.
Observers in Asia, particularly India and China, had the best view, while parts of Africa and Europe caught the spectacle as the Moon rose. The Americas were outside the visibility range.
Ryan Milligan, an astrophysicist at Queen’s University Belfast, explained that the reddish glow comes from sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere. “Blue light scatters more easily, leaving the red hues to illuminate the Moon,” he said.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses require no special protective gear and can be enjoyed with the naked eye if skies are clear.
The last total lunar eclipse occurred in March 2025. The next major celestial event will be a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, visible in parts of Spain and Iceland.
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