A total lunar eclipse will be visible across Israel tonight, turning the moon red from 6:28 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. under clear skies. Here’s when and how to watch.
A total lunar eclipse, a relatively rare astronomical phenomenon, will be visible from across Israel this evening. The event began at 6:28 p.m. and will last nearly six hours.
The eclipse occurs when the Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, blocking sunlight and casting a shadow on the moon’s surface. This precise alignment happens only when the sun, Earth and moon form a straight line. While lunar eclipses take place every few years, they are not always visible from Israel.
As the eclipse progresses, the moon will pass through both the Earth’s partial and full shadows. During its full immersion in the Earth’s shadow, the moon will appear deep red. This occurs because the Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths of light while allowing longer red wavelengths to pass through and reach the lunar surface.
When and where to watch
Although the moon will rise over Israel at 6:51 p.m., the eclipse itself will have already begun at 6:28 p.m. when the moon enters the Earth’s partial shadow. At this point, the dimming is subtle and not easily visible to the naked eye.
Various stages of the moon as seen throughout Israel. (credit: Yuval Halbani/TPS)
At 7:29 p.m., the moon will begin moving into the Earth’s full shadow. Darkness will gradually spread across the surface of the moon until it is almost completely covered.
The eclipse will reach its peak at 9:11 p.m., when the moon is fully inside the Earth’s shadow and takes on a glowing red color. This stage will continue until 9:52 p.m. The moon will then slowly exit the shadow. The partial eclipse ends at 10:56 p.m., and the entire event concludes at 11:55 p.m.
A rare viewing opportunity
Total lunar eclipses occur on average every two to three years, but visibility depends on location. In this case, viewing conditions are expected to be ideal, with clear skies forecast across much of the country.
For those who miss this eclipse, the next one partially visible in Israel will occur in March 2026. A fully visible total eclipse is not expected again until August 2028.
How to capture it on camera
Photographing the eclipse does not require professional equipment. Even smartphones can produce impressive results. To improve photo quality, it is recommended to use a tripod to stabilize the device and switch to night mode if available. Optical zoom is preferable to digital zoom for maintaining image clarity.
Manually adjusting the focus and exposure settings will help retain detail and avoid overly bright images. Lowering the screen brightness can also help prevent glare. For better magnification and sharper results, an external lens is a helpful addition.
