A total lunar eclipse, also known as a “Blood Moon,” is set to occur on the night of Sunday, September 7–8, 2025.
The event, which happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align with Earth in the middle, will be visible across Africa, including Nigeria.
The article presents five key things to know about this celestial spectacle.
- One of the longest total lunar eclipses of the decade: This eclipse will feature “82 minutes of totality,” making it the “longest since 2022.” The extended duration is due to the Moon’s slow movement near its farthest point from Earth and its central passage through Earth’s shadow.
- Huge visibility: The eclipse will be “fully visible across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia,” reaching “about 76–77% of the global population.” In Nigeria, although the Moon will rise after the eclipse has begun, observers will still witness the “greatest eclipse phase and beyond.”
- Viewing in Nigeria: According to timeanddate.com, in Lagos, the Moon will rise around “18:47 WAT” on September 7. The “greatest eclipse” will occur at “about 19:11 WAT,” giving Nigerians a dramatic view.
- No special gear needed: Unlike solar eclipses, “lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye.” “Binoculars or telescopes can enhance the view,” and all that is required is a spot with an “open eastern horizon.”
- Rooted in science, not mysticism: The eerie red glow, or “Blood Moon,” is the result of “Rayleigh scattering,” where Earth’s atmosphere filters out blue light and bends red wavelengths onto the Moon’s surface. While many cultures associate eclipses with “myths or rituals,” the phenomenon is “entirely atmospheric and astronomical in origin.”
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