Australians will have the rare opportunity to witness a ‘blood moon’ this week, marking the first of its kind in nearly three years.
This striking astronomical event will occur on the evening of Friday, March 14, when the moon will appear bathed in red light for a short period.
The blood moon will be visible across Australia, but the eerie effect won’t last long, so skywatchers will need to act quickly.
What is a Blood Moon?
A blood moon is a total lunar eclipse, occurring when the Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon’s surface.
Some light still filters through Earth’s atmosphere, scattering shorter wavelengths and allowing only deep red and orange hues to illuminate the moon.
Though “blood moon” is not a scientific term, it is widely used to describe these dramatic lunar eclipses.
What is a Lunar Eclipse?
A lunar eclipse happens when the moon moves into Earth’s shadow, partially or completely blocking sunlight.
There are different types of lunar eclipses:
- Penumbral eclipse: A subtle dimming of the moon.
- Partial eclipse: Only part of the moon darkens.
- Total lunar eclipse: The entire moon darkens and may turn red.
- Central eclipse: A rare event where the moon passes through the center of Earth’s shadow.
- Selenelion: When both the sun and an eclipsed moon are visible at the same time.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to view without eye protection.
Best Time to See the Blood Moon in 2025
The blood moon will last between 55 and 80 minutes, but in most cities, it will begin before moonrise, meaning only part of the eclipse will be visible.
The best viewing time is right at moonrise, as the eclipse will end shortly after.
Moonrise times in Australian capital cities:
- Sydney – 7:13 PM
- Melbourne – 7:40 PM
- Brisbane – 6:04 PM
- Canberra – 7:22 PM
- Adelaide – 7:35 PM
- Darwin – 7:02 PM
- Hobart – 7:32 PM
More detailed timing information can be found on TimeandDate.com.
Best Places to See the Blood Moon
The ideal viewing spot is a high location with a clear view of the eastern horizon, away from artificial light and obstructions.
While dark locations are best, the blood moon will still be visible from most major cities.
