Blood Moon to grace our skies this weekend: Here’s when you can see it

CapeTalk’s Clarence Ford speaks with Daniel Cunnama, Science Engagement Astronomer at the SA Astronomical Observatory.

Listen below:

A total lunar eclipse will take place on Sunday, 7 September, letting South Africans see a striking red moon in our skies.

This occurs when the Earth is positioned precisely between the Moon and the Sun, resulting in our shadow falling on the surface of the Moon.

The peak visibility of the Blood Moon will be at around 8:11 pm, and the entire eclipse will take place from 7:30 pm to 8:52 pm.

No special glasses or filters will be needed to view this incredible sight.

“Most of Africa is going to see it, and we're actually ideally placed here in South Africa. So we get a very nice view.”

- Daniel Cunnama, Science Engagement Astronomer - SA Astronomical Observatory

RELATED: South Africa will experience FOUR solar eclipses from now to 2030

Cunnama says the redness is caused by the same factors that cause a sunrise and sunset.

“If you were sitting on the moon during a lunar eclipse, you would see essentially a sunset all around the Earth. So there's this red light passing through our atmosphere and being projected onto the moon, making it red.” 

- Daniel Cunnama, Science Engagement Astronomer - SA Astronomical Observatory

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