'Blood Moon' is about to appear, Vietnam is in the ideal observation area

nguyệt thực - Ảnh 1. — A solar eclipse turns the Moon crimson in the sky over Canberra, Australia on March 14 - Photo: AFP

Vietnam can observe the full lunar eclipse

According to AFP news agency, the total lunar eclipse is expected to last from 0:30 - 1:52 am on September 8, Vietnam time (ie from 17:30 - 18:52 on September 7, GMT).

The total duration of the lunar eclipse is more than 82 minutes, including the partial phase of 3 hours and 29 minutes. If the penumbral phase is included, the total duration of the phenomenon is more than 5 hours.

This lunar eclipse night, people in many Asian countries - especially India and China - will have the most ideal viewing conditions.

People in Europe and Africa will only be able to see a partial lunar eclipse in the early evening, when the Moon has just risen. Meanwhile, the Americas will not be able to observe it.

NASA's map shows the areas where the lunar eclipse can be observed. Vietnam is in the area marked "All Eclipse Visible" - meaning the phenomenon can be fully observed.

The website of the Vietnam Astronomy and Cosmology Association (VACA) also said that our country is in the area where the lunar eclipse can be fully observed.

"Warm-up" for rare solar eclipse next year

According to astrophysicist Ryan Milligan from Queen's University (Northern Ireland) - who calls himself an "eclipse hunter" - the event on the night of September 7 is just a "warm-up" for a rare astronomical phenomenon that will take place next year.

Specifically, on August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse - when the Moon completely blocks the sunlight - will appear in some areas of Europe.

“That’s the real big deal,” said Milligan, who has traveled the world for more than a decade to track 12 total solar eclipses, when the sun’s light is completely blocked out for a few precious minutes.

The 2026 solar eclipse will be the first one visible in totality in mainland Europe since 2006, and only those in Spain and Iceland will be able to witness the entire phenomenon. However, other countries will also see a significant portion of the eclipse.

In Spain, the "shadow" area where the total eclipse will appear will be in a narrow strip of about 160km between Madrid and Barcelona, but neither of these cities will be entirely within the ideal viewing area, according to Mr. Milligan.