Bengaluru To Witness Blood Moon On Sept 7–8: Full Schedule And Viewing Guide

Bengaluru’s sky has a date with iconicity this weekend. On the night of September 7-8, 2025, residents will witness a Blood Moon, a total lunar eclipse that turns the Moon a deep shade of red. It’s not just another celestial event; it’s the last lunar eclipse of the year, and one of the longest in recent memory, playing out over three and a half hours.

What Exactly Is A Blood Moon?

When Earth slides perfectly between the Sun and the Moon, our planet’s shadow falls across the lunar surface. But instead of disappearing in darkness, the Moon glows red. Why? Because Earth’s atmosphere bends sunlight around its edges, filtering out blues and greens while letting rusty reds and coppers slip through. The result: a lunar disc that looks like it’s been set ablaze.

For centuries, this eerie glow has sparked folklore, from omens of change to signs of divine presence. Scientists, though, see it as a beautiful physics lesson in atmospheric scattering and planetary alignment.

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When To Watch In Bengaluru

Set your clocks! The eclipse begins quietly at 8:58 PM IST, when Earth’s faint penumbral shadow brushes the Moon. Things get interesting from there:

• Partial eclipse begins: 9:57 PM IST
• Total eclipse (the Blood Moon phase): 11:00 PM – 12:22 AM IST
• Maximum eclipse: 11:41 PM IST
• Partial eclipse ends: 1:26 AM IST (Sept 8)
• Penumbral eclipse ends: 2:25 AM IST

The highlight is the 82 minutes of totality, when the Moon will glow a rich crimson high above the city. At maximum, it will sit more than 60° above the horizon, offering Bengaluru one of the clearest views in the country.

Blood Moon 2025: All You Need To Know

Just step outside, look southeast, give your eyes a few moments to adjust, and there you will be able to spot it: the moon giving out a red shine. For photographers, a tripod and long exposure will bring out the full copper palette, but even a smartphone can do the job with night mode. If clouds spoil the view, observatories and science platforms, including Timeanddate.com plan to stream the eclipse live.

This eclipse coincides with Pitru Paksha, the fortnight devoted to honouring ancestors in Hindu tradition. In many communities, temples remain shut during the event, and a period of ritual abstinence, called Sutak Kaal, begins at 12:57 PM on September 7 and ends once the eclipse is over. Fasting, avoidance of cooking, and cleansing rituals are part of how families mark the occasion.

For astronomers, it’s a precision dance of celestial mechanics. For devotees, it carries spiritual weight. For the rest of us, it’s simply a chance to look up and feel the awe of Earth’s shadow painting the Moon red.

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So on Sunday night, step out. Put the phone down for a moment and watch as Bengaluru’s familiar silver Moon transforms into something otherworldly. It will be a fleeting reminder that the universe always has new ways to surprise us.

Cover Image Courtesy: mlenny/CanvaPro