TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will be treated to one of the year’s most significant astronomical events late Sunday, when a “blood moon” will appear in the night sky during a total lunar eclipse.

According to the Tainan Astronomical Education Area, the eclipse will last five hours and 27 minutes, beginning at 11:28 p.m. Sunday and ending at 4:55 a.m. Monday. The moon is expected to appear deep red, or a “blood moon,” from 1:31 a.m. to 2:53 a.m.

While lunar eclipses occur two to five times a year, not all can be fully viewed in Taiwan, making this event especially rare, TAEA said. To mark the occasion, the planetarium will host free public lectures, star-gazing tours, and telescope viewings, as well as a livestream on its YouTube channel.

Tainan City Education Bureau Director-General Cheng Hsin-hui (鄭新輝) explained that when the sun, Earth, and moon align, the moon is completely obscured by Earth’s shadow, resulting in a total lunar eclipse.

The moon does not disappear entirely, as Earth’s atmosphere refracts blue light while allowing red sunlight to reach the lunar surface, giving it a coppery luster — hence the name “blood moon.” Cheng added that such events help spark public interest in science and astronomy.

TAEA is also hosting a special exhibit, “Legend of the Lunar Eclipse,” exploring both the science and folklore surrounding the phenomenon. Following the eclipse, sky watchers can look forward to Sept. 21 and Sept. 23, when Saturn and Neptune will be more visible as they reach their closest proximity to Earth.