Why Canada misses out on Sunday's Total Lunar Eclipse (and how to see it anyway)
Earth, itself, blocks Canada's view of this 'blood moon', but there's still a way to watch!
September's 'poorly timed' Full Moon means Canada misses out on the second total lunar eclipse of 2025. However, there are still ways to see this astronomical event!
On September 7, 2025, the Moon and Earth will line up perfectly with the Sun in syzygy, causing the Moon to pass directly through Earth's shadow. As a result, the Moon will turn a dusky red colour, as much of the world witnesses a total lunar eclipse.
The view of the Earth-Moon system from above during syzygy, as the Full Moon passes through Earth's shadow. The inset view shows the effect on the Moon, as all of Earth's sunsets and sunrises shine through the atmosphere to turn the lunar surface red. (NASA)
This eclipse occurs over the course of roughly four and a half hours, and according to timeanddate.com, it will be visible to around 7 billion people. That's about 85 per cent of the population of the planet.
The event peaks at exactly 2:11 p.m. EDT on the 7th. That is when the Moon lines up on the exact opposite side of Earth from the Sun.
The view of Earth from within the planet's shadow, showing those regions of the world where the Sept 7 lunar eclipse will be visible. Canada, along the rest of the western hemisphere, are on the opposite, daylit side of the planet. On either side of the Earth, a rainbow of colour shows how sunlight filters through the atmosphere, with only the longest, reddest wavelengths able to pass through the lower atmosphere (closest to the planet) to shine into Earth's shadow. (NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center)
Unfortunately, for those of us in Canada, that timing means that the Moon will also be on the exact opposite side of Earth from us.
Thus, unlike the March 14 "Pi Day" total lunar eclipse that shone in Canadian skies, this one won't be visible to us.
The March 14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse from Olympia, Washington. (Marcus Humberg/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0))
The regions of the world that will see the entire lunar eclipse are from eastern Africa, through central and eastern Asia, and western Australia. The rest of Africa, as well as Europe, far eastern Asia, and eastern Australia will get to see at least some of the total eclipse, either at moonrise or moonset.
The only parts of the western hemisphere that will see any of this eclipse are western Alaska, at moonset, and eastern Brazil, right at moonrise. However, skywatchers in those areas will need to look very closely, as the Moon will be in Earth's diffuse penumbra at the time, when it is challenging to notice any difference in its colour or brightness.
The path of the Moon through Earth's shadow from 11:28 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. EDT on September 7, 2025. (NASA/Fred Espenak/Scott Sutherland)
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How Canadians can see the eclipse, too
The Earth, itself, may be blocking our direct view of this eclipse from Canada. However, that doesn't mean there aren't ways for us to still see it.
Starting at 12 noon EDT on Sunday the 7th, timeanddate.com will be hosting a live stream of the event.
Tune in from the start to see nearly the entire eclipse. Check it out between 1:30 p.m. and 2:52 p.m. EDT to see the Full Blood Moon.
Hosts Anne Buckle and Graham Jones will connect with timeanddate.com CEO Steffen Thorsen on the island of Cyprus, accompanied by geophysicist Anna Smith and astrophysicist Renate Mauland-Hus.
They will also feature views from the Kassel Observatory in Germany, from Dubai courtesy the Dubai Astronomy Group, and from the Perth Observatory in Western Australia.