Japan¡¯s lunar celebrations will be more memorable this year, as the country is set to experience a blood moon.

Between September and October, Japan observes tsukimi, which encompasses various moon-viewing events and festivities to mark the full moon.

But this year¡¯s celebrations will be extra special as a full lunar eclipse is set to take place in the early hours of Monday ¡ª the first seen in Japan since November 2022.

Total lunar eclipses occur when the Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon during a full moon. Because of the moon¡¯s tilted orbit and the precise position required, lunar eclipses typically occur twice a year and are only visible to half of the Earth.

During an eclipse, the Earth casts a shadow across the surface of the moon. Sometimes this results in the lunar surface temporarily turning red, forming a blood moon.

¡°The more dust or clouds in Earth¡¯s atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the moon will appear,¡± according to NASA.

The full eclipse stage will begin at around 2:30 a.m. on Monday and end at 3:52 a.m. ¡ª a total time of 82 minutes.

This will be visible across Japan, but the position of the moon varies somewhat depending on location.

Western and southern Japan ¡ª in particular the Kyushu region ¡ª will have the clearest visibility throughout the entire event.

The moon sets comparatively quickly in eastern and northern Japan. This could mean the moon will appear lower toward the end of the lunar eclipse, although it will still be visible.

For those who don¡¯t want to leave the comfort of their homes, the Gunma Observatory . A live broadcast will also be viewable via the Virtual Telescope website.

The eclipse will be visible across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view without special glasses.

While they are visible to the naked eye, binoculars or telescopes will enhance viewing. A smartphone or standard camera is capable of capturing the event.

The next eclipse visible in Japan is expected on March 3, 2026.