Explainer : All you need to know about the blood moon

When was the last time you looked at the moon? Well, this Sunday, get outside and look up because from around 8 pm, the Moon will slip into Earth’s shadow and transform into a deep, coppery red for 82 minutes. It’s called a blood moon, and yes, Kenya is right in the sweet spot to watch it.

Here’s why it happens: The Earth slides directly between the Sun and the Moon, blocking sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. But instead of disappearing into darkness, the moon picks up a fiery tint. That’s thanks to a light trick called Rayleigh scattering — the same thing that makes sunsets look orange. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, blue light scatters away, while the reds bend around the planet and wash across the Moon.

And here’s a fun fact: a blood mooncan only happen on a full moon. But not every full moon turns red, because the alignment has to be just right. Globally, we get about two to four lunar eclipses every year, but not all of them are total.

Total lunar eclipses — the true “blood moons” — make up just over a third. In 2025, for example, there are only two blood moons worldwide: one in March, and this one on September 7. So yeah, it’s rare enough to look out for.

What Kenyans Think About It
“I’ve never heard of a blood moon before,” admits Maryanne Nyambura, joking that it sounds like a “bleeding moon.”

Nancy Jepkorir: “When I hear blood moon, I immediately think of a reddish moon. I don’t attach any spiritual meaning to it. I’ll just watch it from my window—I’m more of an observer than a fan of astronomy, but I do enjoy seeing it.”

Vivian Wanjiru: “When I hear the term, I picture a striking, rare moon, but I don’t really think it has any spiritual or cultural meaning. I am not big on astronomy, thus I do not have plans to watch what will take place. However, I enjoy seeing the night sky.”

Ian Gitimu: “I have only ever seen a blood moon in movies. I am excited to finally see it in real life on Sunday.”

Where to watch the show
The beauty of a lunar eclipse is that you don’t need special glasses or a road trip — you can see it with your naked eyes from anywhere in Kenya with clear skies.

But if you’re into turning it into an event, the Kenya Tourism Board is hosting viewing parties across the country. The main one will be at Sopa Lodge in Samburu National Reserve, led by Tourism and Wildlife CS Rebecca Miano. Other hotspots include The Waterfront (Karen), Nanyuki, Turkana Basin Institute in Ileret, and Fort Place Grill in Kabete (Kiambu).

Samburu is the star attraction, though — with some of the darkest skies in Africa, you’ll get not just the blood moon but dazzling views of the milky way, constellations, and even meteor showers.

A New Kind of Tourism
This year’s eclipse also marks the launch of Kenya’s first dedicated astro-tourism experience in Samburu. The idea is to go beyond safaris and tap into stargazing as the next big thing. Think guided night-sky tours, astrophotography expeditions, and storytelling that mixes indigenous star lore with modern science.

The Kenya Tourism Board explains it this way: “Astro-tourism is an emerging niche market that combines stargazing, astronomy education and the experience of pristine night skies. With minimal light pollution, clear equatorial skies, and unique landscapes, Samburu presents an unparalleled opportunity to showcase Kenya’s celestial wonders.”

So here’s the deal: step outside around 8 pm on Sunday, and watch as the moon slowly darkens and then turns that dramatic shade of red. By 8:30 pm, it’ll be fully glowing copper, and it stays that way until 9:52 pm — plenty of time to grab photos, vibe with friends, or just enjoy the spectacle.

You don’t need any equipment, but if you’ve got binoculars or a camera, you’ll capture some truly Insta-worthy shots. 
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