Skywatchers in Bangladesh are in for a rare celestial spectacle this Sunday, as a total lunar eclipse, commonly known as a "Blood Moon", will be visible across the country if the sky remains clear.

According to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued Thursday, the total eclipse will be visible from beginning to end in Bangladesh.

The event will last for seven hours and 27 minutes, starting on the night of 7 September and continuing into the early hours of 8 September.

The eclipse will begin at 8:28pm when the moon enters Earth's penumbra, although this initial phase will not be easily visible to the naked eye. Around 9:27pm, the moon will begin to darken as it moves into the umbra. The total eclipse, the most striking phase of the event, will start at 10:30pm and reach its peak at 12:11am on 8 September. During this time, the moon will take on a distinctive reddish or coppery hue, commonly referred to as the "Blood Moon".

Astronomers explain that this unique colour occurs when sunlight, refracted by Earth's atmosphere, casts a red tint onto the moon’s surface, creating a mesmerising view for skywatchers and space enthusiasts.

The total eclipse will be fully visible across Asia, Australia, and Africa, with the central path extending from Indonesia’s Hila Island in the east to Kenya’s Mombasa Port in the west. However, large parts of North America, the Caribbean, and nearly 90% of South America will miss the event.

In Bangladesh, the timing of the eclipse will vary slightly by division. In Dhaka, the eclipse will start at 8:27pm, reach its peak at 12:11am, and end around 2:56am on 8 September. Similar timings will apply to other divisional cities, including Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, and Barishal.