Blood Moon Tonight! Total Lunar Eclipse Visible Across the Philippines — Here's What Time to Watch

Skygazers across the Philippines are in for a treat tonight as a total lunar eclipse — popularly known as the "Blood Moon" — will be fully visible under clear skies, according to PAGASA. This is the kind of celestial event you don't want to miss, because the next one won't happen until New Year's Eve 2028.

PAGASA weather specialist Chenel Dominguez confirmed that generally fair weather is expected nationwide, giving Filipinos an unobstructed view of the rare astronomical event. The Moon will rise at 5:58 p.m. already partially eclipsed, so you can start watching right away — no waiting required.

Here's the timeline: Totality begins at 7:04 p.m. when the Moon enters Earth's dark central shadow (the umbra). The peak of the eclipse hits at 7:34 p.m., with the Moon's entire disk completely covered. Totality lasts about 59 minutes and 24 seconds, ending at 8:03 p.m. The Moon fully exits the umbral shadow at 9:17 p.m., and the eclipse officially wraps up at 10:25 p.m.

During maximum eclipse, expect the Moon to glow a dramatic coppery red — the signature Blood Moon look caused by Earth's atmosphere bending and filtering sunlight, scattering blue wavelengths while letting red light reach the lunar surface. Unlike solar eclipses, this one is completely safe to watch with the naked eye, though binoculars or a telescope will definitely level up the experience.

PAGASA is hosting free telescope viewing sessions at several sites including the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory in Quezon City, their Tuguegarao office, the Cebu PAGASA Complex in Mactan, and the Mindanao PAGASA Planetarium in El Salvador. The last total lunar eclipse visible in the Philippines was on September 7-8, 2025.

Source: Manila Bulletin