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As spring unfurls across Australia and the days grow longer and brighter, an unmissable lunar event is rising in our skies: a Blood Moon total lunar eclipse, set to dazzle us. The eclipse will begin on the evening of Sunday, September 7, and will be fully visible in Australian skies in the early hours of Monday, September 8.
According to Associate Professor Devika Kamath, astrophysicist at Macquarie University, this eclipse is a rare opportunity to witness “the perfect alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, with the Earth casting a long shadow on the Moon.” Unlike regular eclipses, the Moon won’t vanish from sight – it will glow in shades of copper and red as the Earth’s shadow passes over it.
Below, we break down where to see the Blood Moon lunar eclipse, what it means astrologically, and the best places to view it. Total lunar eclipses are rare, according to Kamath. “The Earth, Moon and Sun must align with exquisite precision so the Earth’s shadow fully engulfs the Moon. And, even when the alignment is perfect, only observers on the night side of the Earth can see it – the cosmos is generous with eclipses but not with vantage points.”
The next Blood Moon that will be visible in Australia won’t occur until March 3, 2026, so here’s everything you need to know about spotting this one.
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When Is The September Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse?
The eclipse will begin on Sunday, September 7, in the evening, but the full eclipse won’t be visible until 3:30am on September 8 (Sydney time), reaching its maximum at 4:11am, according to timeanddate.com. So set your alarms. In Western Australia, the Blood Moon will reach its peak earlier, around 1:30am.
How Long Will The Lunar Eclipse Last?
The total eclipse, or Blood Moon, will be visible for about 90 minutes, from 3:30 am to 5:00 am.
Where To See The Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse In Australia
“The beauty of the Blood Moon is you don’t need a telescope,” says Kamath. “What matters most is viewing conditions – clear skies, an open horizon, and as little light pollution as possible.”
In Sydney, Kamath recommends heading to coastal lookouts, beaches, and open harbourside spots. “Bondi Beach and other eastern beaches have unobstructed horizons, and Observatory Hill in Millers Point has clear skies.” She also recommends Barangaroo Reserve, where you can see the Blood Moon mirrored in its expansive harbour views.
What Is A Blood Moon?
So how does a Blood Moon differ from a Strawberry Moon or Harvest Moon? “A Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth’s shadow falls across it, creating a striking reddish or coppery glow. This happens because sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is bent and scattered – shorter blue wavelengths scatter away, while longer red wavelengths pass through and reach the Moon, colouring it red. In essence, you’re seeing all the sunrises and sunsets on Earth projected onto the lunar surface at once.”
Poetic, isn’t it?
What Does The Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse In Pisces Mean Astrologically?
Astrologically, Blood Moon lunar eclipses are full of meaning. This year, the 2025 eclipses have occurred in the signs of Virgo and Pisces. Eclipse seasons happen every six months, when the transits of the Sun, Moon and Earth align. Lunar eclipses typically mark endings (while solar eclipses mark beginnings).
Earlier in the year, astrologer Emma Vidgen told ELLE Australia that eclipses are an opportunity for a “cosmic clean-out” and that the 2025 Virgo and Pisces lunar eclipses would “clear out what is meant to go.” “The thing to remember during eclipse season is that if things are starting to fall away, trust that they’re not meant to come with you.”
Astrologer Kirsty Gray says this eclipse cycle has invited us to “let go of habits that may be holding us back – like obsessing over tiny details, overthinking every decision, or getting caught up in worst-case scenarios.”
Meanwhile, Vidgen notes that this final lunar eclipse in Pisces introduces themes around relationships that may linger for years. “The last eclipse in Pisces was a preview of what the next 18 months will be about – and that’s relationships and emotional renewal, especially for people with Virgo or Pisces placements.”
As we’ve moved from perfectionist Virgo to intuitive Pisces, we’re learning to let go of rigid (even self-flagellating) patterns that may have been holding us back.
Instead, whether it’s in love or career, we’re being called to trust the natural flow of things and focus on the bigger picture. “Think of it as switching from your inner critic to your inner guide,” Gray surmises.
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