Kenya Set to Witness Rare Blood Moon Phenomenon This Sunday From 6:25 PM
Kenya’s skies will be aglow this weekend with a rare and stunning event — a total lunar eclipse that will turn the moon a deep red, also known as a “blood moon.”
NASA says the eclipse will be visible across the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. In Kenya, we have one of the best views, with the event happening throughout Sunday, September 7 and into the early hours of September 8.
According to astronomical forecasts, the eclipse in Nairobi will start at around 6:25 pm with the penumbral phase. The moon will enter total eclipse at 8:30 pm, peak at 9:11 pm and end just before midnight, lasting over 5 hours.
It happens when the sun, Earth and moon align perfectly, casting Earth’s shadow on the lunar surface. During this alignment, most blue light scatters in Earth’s atmosphere and the remaining red-orange hues are reflected back to the moon, giving it that blood red glow.
The full eclipse won’t be visible in the Americas but those there can still enjoy the September “corn moon”, a traditional name for the harvest season. The corn moon will be bright all weekend and will be almost full a day before and after its peak.
Experts advise those who want to catch the blood moon to find a viewing spot far from city lights to maximize visibility. “The moon appears red because sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, bending and colouring the lunar surface,” says Petro, a NASA scientist.
At times, just before and after the full eclipse, you may even see bluish or purplish fringes on the moon’s edges — a rare effect caused by sunlight filtering through Earth’s ozone layer.
Lunar eclipses don’t happen as often as full moons. While full moons occur every 29 days, total eclipses happen only twice a year when the conditions are right. If you miss this one, the next total lunar eclipse is on March 3, 2026 and will be visible in parts of North and South America.
“The moon has been Earth’s companion for over 4.5 billion years and every eclipse is a reminder of that shared history,” says astronomer Russell.
And to top it all up, the next three full moons after September’s event will be supermoons, bigger and brighter as the moon comes closest to Earth in its orbit.
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Kenya Set to Witness Rare Blood Moon Phenomenon This Sunday From 6:25 PM