Berlin's Blood Moon Spectacle on Sunday: Ways to witness the Total Lunar Eclipse
A spectacular celestial event is set to take place over Berlin on Sunday evening, as the city will be treated to a total lunar eclipse. Here's what you need to know about this astronomical spectacle.
The total lunar eclipse will begin at 18:27 and end at 20:52, with the maximum darkness of the moon occurring at 21:11. The event will be visible from the Archenhold Observatory and the Wilhelm Foerster Observatory in Berlin from 19:30.
During a lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow in space causes the moon to darken, sometimes taking on a reddish hue. This eclipse will last for a total duration of 3 hours and 18 minutes.
Interestingly, the first phase of the eclipse, where only part of the moon is darkened, will not be visible in Germany. However, the moon will enter the Earth's umbra, the darkest part of the shadow, at 18:27 on Sunday evening.
At the time of maximum darkness, the moon will be only 4.5 degrees above the southeast horizon in Berlin. Amateur astronomers can track the moon leaving the Earth's umbra if the sky is clear after the end of the total eclipse.
Initially, the reddish moon during the eclipse will be visible only with binoculars or telescopes due to twilight. As the eclipse progresses, the moon will become more visible to the naked eye.
It's worth noting that a total solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Europe, including Spain, on August 12, 2026. In contrast, a total lunar eclipse will not be visible equally well from all locations.
This lunar eclipse occurs during a full moon, when the moon, Earth, and sun are aligned. On average, three full moons per year pass through the Earth's umbra.
The next total lunar eclipse visible from the German-speaking region will be on New Year's Eve 2028. So, mark your calendars for this exciting celestial event!
In Berlin, the lunar eclipse will be visible over the city from 19:37. For the best view, eastern Germany, near Görlitz, is the ideal location, as the Moon will rise already totally eclipsed starting about 19:31, with the total phase lasting until about 20:53. The exact maximum occurs roughly in the middle of this interval, around 20:14, above eastern Germany.
No protective glasses are required for a lunar eclipse, making it a safe and enjoyable event for everyone to witness. So, grab your binoculars, telescopes, or just your naked eye, and head out to enjoy this celestial spectacle on September 7, 2025!
