Total lunar eclipse 2025: When is it, what time will the blood moon occur, and where will it be visible in Spain?

Astronomy lovers will experience another long-awaited moment in the coming days. Following the Perseids or Tears of Saint Lawrence in August, September —where resolutions pile up—comes the September full moon, a lunar eclipse visible from Spain.

This eclipse presents a unique opportunity for astronomy fans and the curious, who will be able to observe the Moon take on an intense reddish hue . The last total lunar eclipse that could be observed from Spain was on March 14, 2025.

The full moon of September 2025 will occur on Sunday, September 7. That night, the satellite will reach its full moon phase, i.e., when it appears fully illuminated from Earth. It will also coincide with a total lunar eclipse .

During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the satellite. However, some sunlight manages to bypass the Earth and reach the Moon, filtered by the Earth's atmosphere. This light appears tinged with reddish hues due to the same effect that colors sunrises and sunsets , known as Rayleigh scattering. Hence the popular name "blood moon" or "red moon."

According to NASA, this color can be intensified by dust particles, smoke, or fog in the atmosphere, in addition to the refraction that occurs due to the curvature of the Earth.

It will be the second and last lunar eclipse of the year and will last a total of 83 minutes , making it one of the longest of the decade. The totality phase will begin at 7:31 PM, reach its peak at 8:12 PM, and end at 8:53 PM (Spanish time).

The best time to observe it will be between 7:30 and 9:00 PM (Spanish peninsular time), coinciding with the totality phase of the eclipse. In areas such as the Balearic Islands and the eastern Iberian Peninsula, the Moon will be visible for almost the entire duration of totality. In Madrid , it will appear about 15 minutes before the end of this phase, and in Galicia and the Canary Islands, it will rise in its partial phase.

The September full moon is called the Harvest Moon , a name given by farmers because it coincides with the harvest season for corn and other crops. They would take advantage of the moonlight to continue working in the fields at night. Native Americans also call it the Corn Moon for the same reason.

The next eclipse will occur on March 2 and 3, 2026 , but it will not be visible from Spain.