How Long Will the ‘Blood Moon’ Lunar Eclipse Last in India, How to Watch and When: Expert Insights

 

In Delhi, the penumbral phase kicks off at 8:58 pm IST, followed by the partial eclipse at 9:57 pm IST, reaching totality around 11:48 pm IST. That peak phase of deep red coloration will extend for just over 48 minutes, according to ANI’s report citing O.P. Gupta, senior engineer at Delhi’s Nehru Planetarium.

Calling this event a globally mesmerizing spectacle, former MP Birla Planetarium director Dr. Devi Prasad Duari notes that the eclipse will be visible not only over India but also in Australia, the Far East, the Middle East, Europe, and parts of Africa. Observers across North and South America, however, will miss out on this phenomenon.

This marks the second total lunar eclipse of 2025—after the March event—and occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align precisely, casting Earth’s shadow onto the lunar surface and bathing it in a deep red hue.

For centuries, the sight of a Blood Moon has stirred both fascination and fear among humanity, blending astronomical wonder with age-old myths and omens.

Astronomy enthusiasts are especially thrilled because this will be the longest total lunar eclipse since 2022, offering an extended window to observe the Moon’s transformation.

Astrophysicist Ryan Milligan of Queen’s University Belfast explains that during totality, only sunlight filtered and scattered through Earth’s atmosphere reaches the Moon. “Blue light is scattered more easily than red, leaving the Moon with its iconic ‘bloody glow,’” AFP quotes Milligan.

Unlike solar eclipses, which demand special glasses or pinhole projectors, lunar eclipses can be safely watched with the naked eye—provided the sky is clear and you have an unobstructed viewing spot.