POLOKWANE – Residents in the city are in for a spectacular celestial treat this weekend, as a total lunar eclipse, also known as a Blood Moon, will be visible on Sunday (September 7).

Read more: Don’t miss the year’s last blood moon in September

The eclipse will give residents a chance to witness the moon transform into a deep, mesmerising red as it passes through Earth’s shadow.

The celestial event will last for a total duration of five hours, 10 minutes, and 38 seconds.

The period of total eclipse, when the moon is fully immersed in the Earth’s shadow and appears red, will last for one hour, 22 minutes, and 3 seconds.

You don’t need any special equipment to enjoy the show, just a clear view of the sky, but for the best experience, find a spot away from city lights.

Here is a timeline of the key moments to look out for on Sunday, September 7, according to local time (SAST):

• Moonrise: 5:49 PM
• Partial Eclipse Begins: 6:27 PM
• Full Eclipse Begins: 7:30 PM
• Maximum Eclipse: 8:11 PM
• Full Eclipse Ends: 8:52 PM
• Partial Eclipse Ends: 9:56 PM
• Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 10:55 PM

What is a total lunar eclipse?

According to Nasa, a total lunar eclipse happens when the moon moves into the inner part of Earth’s shadow.

“Some of the sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere reaches the moon’s surface, lighting it dimly. Colors with shorter wavelengths (blues and violets) scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, like red and orange. Because these longer wavelengths make it through Earth’s atmosphere, and the shorter wavelengths have scattered away, the moon appears orange or reddish during a lunar eclipse. The more dust or clouds in Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the moon appears,” their website reads.