A total lunar eclipse will be visible from the Czech Republic and Slovakia on Sunday, September 7, offering the first opportunity in more than six years to witness this phenomenon.

The eclipse will occur shortly after sunset, with the best visibility in the eastern regions.

In Prague, the Moon will appear four minutes after the total phase starts, making it more challenging to spot against the brightening evening sky.

“The total eclipse will begin at 7:30 p.m. above the eastern horizon, but initial observation will be difficult in the west,” the astronomers from the Physics Institute in Opava and the Czech Astronomical Society noted.

“As darkness deepens, the eclipsed Moon will become visible in the clear sky, appearing within the Earth’s shadow projected through the atmosphere, often referred to as the Venus belt.”

The eclipse will reach its maximum at 8:11 p.m., when the Moon may appear red to observers in Western Bohemia, at least through telescopes or cameras. As night falls, viewers across the country will see the Moon rise as a bright orange disk against the horizon.

The total phase will last 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 6 seconds, making it one of the longest lunar eclipses of the decade.

The partial phase will continue until 9:56 p.m., with Saturn and Neptune positioned to the east of the darkened Moon. Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, while Neptune will require a small telescope.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, which theoretically happens every full moon when the Moon is directly opposite the Sun.

In reality, eclipses are less frequent, with no more than four occurring each year, including penumbral ones. This is due to the Moon’s orbit being tilted about five degrees relative to the Earth’s orbital plane, while the Earth’s shadow spans only 1.5 degrees at the Moon’s distance, astronomers explained. Partial eclipses remain more common than total ones.

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