The 'blood moon' will reach its peak at 9:12 P.M., visible across the Middle East, Asia and beyond; the next total lunar eclipse won't occur until 2028
A total lunar eclipse will be visible in Israel and much of Asia on Sunday evening, offering a striking celestial display.
In Israel, the eclipse will begin at 7:27 P.M., when the Earth's shadow first touches the moon, about 37 minutes after moonrise. At 8:30 P.M. it will reach totality – the "blood moon" phase – lasting an hour and 22 minutes, with the peak at 9:12 P.M. The eclipse will then gradually return to partial before ending at 11:55 P.M.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. During totality, shorter wavelengths of light – blue and violet – are absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, while longer red wavelengths are refracted, giving the moon a reddish hue. The effect will be especially pronounced this evening, as the moon is relatively close to Earth and will appear slightly larger and brighter than usual.
The eclipse will be visible to the naked eye, but the best views will be from darker locations. Some cloud cover is expected, though public viewing events are planned across the country.
