Sri Lankans will have the rare chance to witness a spectacular ‘blood moon’ this Sunday (7 September), when a total lunar eclipse will light up the night sky, turning the moon a deep red for 82 minutes.
University of Colombo Physics Department Head and Astronomy and Space Science Unit Director Prof. Chandana Jayaratne said this will be the last total lunar eclipse of the year, visible to nearly 85% of the global population. Sri Lanka is expected to offer some of the clearest views of the phenomenon.
The eclipse will begin at 8.58 p.m. with the penumbral phase, followed by the partial eclipse at 9.57 p.m. Totality will start at 11.01 p.m. and reach its peak at 11.42 p.m., lasting until 12.22 a.m. on September 8. The partial phase will end at 1.26 a.m. The full event will span 5 hours and 27 minutes.
Prof. Jayaratne explained that the blood moon occurs when the Earth passes between the sun and the full moon, casting its shadow and transforming the moon’s silvery glow into a reddish hue.
Astronomy enthusiasts have been urged to prepare for the rare celestial event, which will be visible across much of Asia, Australia, Europe, and Africa—weather permitting.
