Blood Moon: Gujarat to Witness Total Lunar Eclipse on Sept 7–8

Gandhinagar | Gujarat — Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST), working under the aegis of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat, is organizing a special public outreach program on the occasion of the Total Lunar Eclipse – popularly known as the Blood Moon – on the night of 7–8 September 2025.

This celestial spectacle will last for 82 minutes of totality, making it one of the longest eclipses of this decade. For the first time since 27 July 2018, the entire country will be able to witness the complete total lunar eclipse. The next total lunar eclipse will occur on 31 December 2028, while a partial eclipse will be visible on 3 March 2026.

Eclipse Timeline (IST):

• Penumbral Eclipse begins: 8:58 pm – subtle shading starts
• Umbral Eclipse begins: 9:57 pm – Earth’s shadow clearly visible
• Totality begins: 11:01 pm – Moon fully immersed in shadow
• Greatest Eclipse: 11:42 pm – peak of the Blood Moon
• Totality ends: 12:22 am – one hour and 22 minutes of totality
• Umbral Eclipse ends: 2:25 am – Moon exits Earth’s shadow

During totality, the Moon will turn a striking coppery-red hue as sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere. This rare phenomenon occurs because shorter blue wavelengths scatter in the sky, while longer red wavelengths bend and illuminate the lunar surface. Nearly 7 billion people worldwide (around 80% of the global population) will be able to witness this stunning event.

Gujarat Gears Up for the Eclipse

To mark the occasion, Regional Science Centres at Rajkot, Patan, Bhavnagar, and Bhuj, along with all District Community Science Centres across Gujarat, will remain open late into the night for the public. Equipped with telescopes and guided by experts, these centres are ready to welcome students, teachers, science enthusiasts, and citizens to experience the eclipse together.

Special Programs and Activities:

1. Observation through India’s first Public Space Observatory at RSC Bhuj
2. Special Eclipse Outreach Programs at RSC Patan, Bhavnagar, and Rajkot
3. Interactive sessions at all District Science Centres
4. Exhibition Models explaining the concept of lunar eclipses
5. Myth-busting sessions to counter superstitions
6. Hands-on demonstrations on using telescopes/binoculars
7. Astrophotography guidance for capturing the eclipse
8. Star-gazing sessions alongside the eclipse
9. Live streaming for wider outreach

GUJCOST invites students, educators, families, and communities to join in celebrating this rare astronomical event, fostering curiosity, and strengthening scientific temper across the state.