Stargazers marvel at blood moon during historic lunar eclipse

On Sunday night, stargazers across Asia, parts of Europe, and Africa experienced a stunning astronomical event: a total lunar eclipse that turned the Moon a deep red, often referred to as a 'Blood Moon.' The phenomenon occurred between 1730 GMT and 1852 GMT. Countries such as India and China were notably in prime locations for optimal viewing, benefiting from clear weather and timing. Meanwhile, regions in Europe and Africa had limited sightings, mainly catching a partial eclipse as the Moon rose early in the evening. However, observers in the Americas were not able to witness this spectacular occurrence. As the Moon passed into the Earth’s shadow, it illuminated in a bloody hue due to the way Earth’s atmosphere scatters light. This scattering effect, as articulated by astrophysicist Ryan Milligan of Queen’s University Belfast, results in the blue wavelengths being more dispersed than red ones, leading to the characteristic color that has enthralled humanity throughout history. Observing lunar eclipses requires no specialized equipment beyond clear skies, allowing countless enthusiasts to view this celestial event first-hand. The last total lunar eclipse took place earlier in March 2025, while the preceding one occurred in 2022. Looking ahead, a rare total solar eclipse is anticipated on August 12, 2026, primarily visible in a select area of Europe, specifically Spain and Iceland, marking the first total solar eclipse across mainland Europe since 2006.