Skywatchers in Pakistan are in for a celestial treat this weekend as a total lunar eclipse—popularly known as a “Blood Moon”—will be visible across the country during the night of September 7 and the early hours of September 8.
When and Where to Watch
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the Moon will begin dimming at 8:28 pm (PST) on Saturday evening. The partial eclipse phase is expected to start at 9:27 pm, while the full eclipse will begin at 10:31 pm. At its peak—11:12 pm—the Moon will glow a striking red before gradually returning to normal brightness. The total phase ends at 11:53 pm, with the event wrapping up completely by 1:55 am on Sunday.
The eclipse won’t just be confined to Pakistan. Large parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and both the Americas will also get a view, although visibility will vary depending on location. For observers in Asia, including India and China, conditions are expected to be especially favorable.
Why the Moon Turns Red
During a total lunar eclipse, Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon. Instead of plunging the Moon into complete darkness, Earth’s atmosphere bends sunlight and scatters shorter blue wavelengths, letting through the longer red ones. The result is the Moon’s eerie crimson glow.
“That’s what gives the Moon its bloody appearance,” explained Ryan Milligan, an astrophysicist at Queen’s University Belfast.
More Eclipses This Month
September is shaping up to be an exciting month for astronomy enthusiasts. Just two weeks after the Blood Moon, a partial solar eclipse will take place on September 21–22. This one won’t be visible in Pakistan but can be seen from southern Australia, Antarctica, and parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Meanwhile, stargazers in Europe and parts of Africa will also catch a partial lunar eclipse later in the month, though it will be brief and coincide with moonrise. The Americas, however, will miss out this time.
Looking Ahead: The Big One in 2026
While Sunday’s Blood Moon will be memorable, astronomers are already pointing to an even more spectacular event on the horizon: a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. The eclipse will cut across parts of mainland Europe for the first time in two decades, with Spain and Iceland set to witness the rare totality.
Milligan, a veteran eclipse-chaser who has traveled the world to watch more than a dozen such events, describes the 2026 eclipse as “the big one,” noting that although Spain will be in the path of totality, neither Madrid nor Barcelona will experience it fully.
For now, though, all eyes are on the night sky this weekend, where the Moon will put on one of nature’s most haunting displays—no telescope or special glasses required, just clear weather.
