Blood Moon Eclipse in the US: Know do's and don'ts, date, timings, myths and more

Out of the two lunar eclipses scheduled for the year 2025, the second one is coming soon. A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align in an order. The one in September 2025, will be a total lunar eclipse, which occurs when the moon is fully engulfed by Earth's umbra. Around 85% of the global population will get a chance to catch a glimpse at the wondrous sight, as per TimeandDate.com. Below, find all you need to know about the much-awaited astronomical event.

A total lunar eclipse or blood moon will be visible overnight on Sunday, September 7 till the early hours of September 8, 2025. The eclipse will last for 5 hours and 7 minutes, as per Space.com.

A total lunar eclipse is often called a blood moon eclipse as the moon's colour turns crimson due to being hidden by the Earth's shadow. These are the regions which will be able to see the blood moon eclipse: Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, western parts of North America (Alaska), eastern parts of South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic and Antarctica, according to TimeandDate.com.

The 2025 lunar eclipse calendar consisted of two lunar eclipses. The first total lunar eclipse took place on March 13-14, 2025, which was visible across the US, according to TimeandDate.com. Parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, the Pacific and Africa saw little of the eclipse. Now, the second total lunar eclipse will be missing North America and the rest of the states as it will be morning there. In the U.S., the eclipse begins at 11:28 am EDT (15:28 UTC), when the moon will already have set below the horizon. However, interested viewers can catch the livestream of the event from 1:45 pm EDT hosted by the Virtual Telescope Project based in Italy.

While trying to catch a glimpse of the exciting astronomical event, keep these do's and don'ts in mind. You don't require any special equipment to view the eclipse as it is safe to view with the naked eye. Those who will be watching it in the skies, must be on the lookout for a dark area with a clear view of the sky. In terms of don'ts avoiding city lights and clouded areas. Additionally, don't confuse solar eclipse precautions with those for a lunar one, which is naturally safe.

Lunar eclipses hold different meanings and myths across the globe. In India, people are advised to stay indoors, avoid cooking or touching sharp objects during this time. In Aboriginal Australian beliefs, the eclipses were considered ominous, being associated with disease or spiritual imbalance. And in ancient times, while the Egyptians envisioned a sow devouring the moon, Chinese myths spoke of a dragon biting the moon and so on.