Blood Moon on display tonight: Total lunar eclipse to peak at 11.48 pm, says Nehru Planetarium

Blood moon

The total lunar eclipse of 2025 will peak at 11:48 pm on Sunday and last for 48 minutes, according to the Nehru Planetarium. The rare celestial event, popularly known as the 'Blood Moon', will be visible in India, Pakistan and China.

“The eclipse will peak at 11.48 pm and last for 48 minutes. People can watch it easily. It will not harm the eyes. You can even eat and drink during it. This eclipse cannot only be seen in India but also in Pakistan and China. In Delhi, the penumbral phase (initial phase) will start at 8.58 pm. The partial eclipse will begin at around 9.57 pm,” Senior Planetarium Engineer O.P. Gupta told ANI.

A lunar eclipse occurs only during the full moon phase, when the Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface. During this alignment, Earth’s shadow dims the Moon and often gives it a reddish tint, creating the Blood Moon effect.

In a total lunar eclipse, the Moon passes into the inner part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. Some sunlight, filtered through Earth’s atmosphere, reaches the lunar surface, causing the Moon to glow dimly in shades of red.

Skywatchers across large parts of the world will be able to witness the spectacle, with nearly half the Earth positioned to view at least part of the eclipse.