September’s Waxing Gibbous Moon Heralds Spectacular Total Lunar Eclipse

Current Moon Phase and Upcoming Eclipse

Today, September 6, 2025, the Moon is in its Waxing Gibbous phase with 98% illumination from the Sun. The Moon is 13.32 days into its lunar cycle, counted from the last New Moon.

Approaching Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse

The next Full Moon, known as the September Corn Moon, will occur tomorrow, September 7, at 2:09 PM EDT. This Full Moon typically carries a second name – the Harvest Moon – which is given to the Full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox (September 22). However, this year October’s Full Moon will claim the Harvest Moon title as it falls closer to the equinox.

Spectacular Eclipse Event

This lunar event will be particularly special as approximately 85% of the world’s population will have the opportunity to witness a “blood red” total lunar eclipse on September 7-8, 2025. The total lunar eclipse will be visible from regions of Africa, Europa, Asia, and Australia. While the contiguous U.S. won’t see the total eclipse, Hawaii and parts of Alaska will experience varying degrees of a partial lunar eclipse.

Astronomical Significance

The Moon’s behavior is fascinating – we always see the same hemisphere because its rotation is synchronous with Earth, completing one rotation in 29.5 days. As it moves through its orbit, the Moon appears to travel eastward in the sky by 12° daily, creating different angles of illumination.

Impact on Earth

The Moon’s gravitational influence causes Earth’s waters to bulge, creating tides. During both Full and New Moons, when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, we experience “spring tides” – exceptionally high or low tides due to the combined gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon.