For those who enjoy watching celestial events, a total lunar eclipse will be visible in Greece this coming Sunday, September 7.

A total lunar eclipse is when the Sun, the Earth and the Moon align. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon appears red because the only sunlight reaching the Moon has to pass through Earth’s atmosphere. This reddish appearance is the result of a phenomenon called “Rayleigh scattering” which also makes the sky blue and our sunsets red. Tiny air molecules in our atmosphere scatter more of the shorter blue wavelength light, allowing the longer red wavelength light to remain visible.

The event on Sunday will start at approximately 19:27 and reach its maximum point at 20:30, lasting until 21:53 local time in Greece, with the entire event visible across the country.

Lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye because they only reflect sunlight. A cloud-free sky is preferable. Minimise light in your vicinity and watch from a spot where your view is not obstructed by tall buildings or trees.

At present, the night skies on Sunday across Greece look to be clear.