Millions of Australians have the chance to witness a rare 'blood moon', the first of its kind in almost three years.
The exciting astronomical event will see the moon bathed in red light for a few short but striking moments tonight.
The blood moon will be visible in most parts of Australia but you'll have to be quick, as the eerie effect isn't going to last long.
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Here's everything you need to know about the blood moon including what it is, how to see it and when it will be most visible.
What is a blood moon?
It sounds spooky but a blood moon is actually just a kind of lunar eclipse; specifically, a total lunar eclipse.
This occurs when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, blocking all direct sunlight from reaching the moon's surface.
However, some light can still reach the moon through the Earth's atmosphere.
This light appears orange or red because only longer wavelengths can make it through the atmosphere without scattering, leaving only the deepest, warmest colours visible.
While the term blood moon isn't scientifically recognised, it's commonly used to describe these kinds of eclipses which leave the moon bathed in eerie red light.
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What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs any time the moon moves into the Earth's shadow, leaving the moon partially or wholly darkened as light from the sun cannot reach it.
There are several different kinds of lunar eclipses and they can occur quite frequently, though some are more rare than others.
A penumbral lunar eclipse only causes a subtle dimming effect, while a partial lunar eclipse typically dims only part of the moon's surface.
A total lunar eclipse, wherein the whole surface is dimmed and may appear red, is more rare.
A central lunar eclipse is relatively rare and occurs when the moon passes near and through the centre of Earth's shadow and a selenelion or 'horizontal eclipse' is when both the sun and an eclipsed moon are visible in the sky at the same time.
Unlike a solar eclipse, lunar eclipses can be safely viewed without eye protection.
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How rare is a blood moon/total lunar eclipse?
Total lunar eclipses are more rare than penumbral or partial lunar eclipse.
The last blood moon occurred in November 2022 and was visible with the naked eye in the Australian night sky.
After the March 14 blood moon, the next total lunar eclipse is expected to take place in Australia on September 7 and 8, 2025.
What is the best time to see the blood moon in 2025?
The blood moon will appear tonight and will last between 55 and 80 minutes, however only part of the eclipse will be visible as it will begin before the moon has risen in most capital cities.
The best time to view the blood moon will be right on moonrise, as the eclipse is likely to finish soon after in most cities.
Expected moonrise times in Australia's capital cities are as follows:
- Sydney – 7.13pm
- Melbourne – 7.40pm
- Brisbane – 6.04pm
- Canberra – 7.22pm
- Adelaide – 7.35pm
- Darwin – 7.02pm
- Hobart – 7.32pm
The blood moon is unlikely to be visible in Perth, where moonrise will be at 6.37pm local time.
More details on when the blood moon will be visible in cities around the country can be found on TimeandDate.com.
Where is the best place to see the blood moon in 2025?
The best place to witness a lunar eclipse of any kind is a high vantage point with a clear view of the eastern horizon and limited artificial light sources.
Somewhere dark without any visual obstructions is best, but the blood moon will be visible from most major cities too.
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