Vietnam to witness rare overnight ‘Blood Moon’ lunar eclipse tonight

From Sunday evening to the early hours of Monday, people in Vietnam and other countries can witness the phenomenon.

In Vietnam, the eclipse begins at 10:28 pm on Sunday and lasts until 3:55 am on Monday, with the total phase—when the Moon passes fully into Earth's shadow—lasting 82 minutes, from 12:30 am to 1:52 am.

The Vietnam Astronomy and Cosmology Association (VACA) explained that a lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, casting Earth's shadow over the Moon.

During the total eclipse, the Moon takes on a deep red hue, a phenomenon known as the 'Blood Moon.'

This color results from sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere, where shorter blue wavelengths scatter while longer red wavelengths bend toward the Moon.

The HAS added that this eclipse takes place just 2.6 days before the Moon reaches perigee—its closest point to Earth—causing it to appear larger and darker, offering a rare chance to witness a super 'Blood Moon.'

According to VACA, the upcoming phenomenon may be visible across large parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, with Vietnam among the best-positioned countries to enjoy the view.

If skies remain clear, stargazers in Vietnam will have the chance to follow the entire sequence of the event—from the partial stages to the total phase and back again —VACA added.

It also recommended choosing an open location with minimal artificial light to fully appreciate the glowing red Moon.

Globally, over seven billion people are expected to witness this lunar event, with about 6.2 billion people able to see the full eclipse from start to finish, according to VietNamNet.

Although lunar eclipses are not particularly rare—partial, penumbral, or total eclipses occur almost every year—astronomers say they remain a spectacular sight.

This marks the second total lunar eclipse of the year, following one in March.

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses can be viewed safely with the naked eye, without the need for telescopes or binoculars.