On Friday night, the Moon may appear a bit different if you look up in the eastern regions of Australia.

While many around the globe will witness a spectacular “blood red” moon eclipse, a small portion of Australia will only catch the concluding moments of a partial eclipse as the Moon ascends.

Jonti Horner, an astronomer at the University of Southern Queensland, has labeled this Friday’s eclipse a “non-starter” for most Australians.

However, for those fortunate enough to observe it, the Moon will seem to have a small section missing against the twilight backdrop as it escapes Earth’s shadow.

Even though it may not match the thrill of a “blood moon,” Professor Horner remarked that this serves as a “warm-up” for a series of breathtaking total eclipses occurring later this year.

If you’re located in the east and have clear skies, here’s when and where you can view it.

Where is the ideal location to witness the March eclipse?

This Friday’s lunar eclipse will exclusively be observable from the easternmost part of Australia — anywhere east of a line drawn from Cairns to Hobart.

The farther east you reside, the more of the eclipse you will experience.

For instance, Byron Bay will see the partial eclipse for approximately 40 minutes, while Brisbane will enjoy it for about 30 minutes.

What time will the lunar eclipse occur tonight in Australia?

You can look up details for your specific location.

To witness it, gaze directly east as the Sun sets in the west.

The further east you are located, the earlier the Moon rises (similar to the Sun), allowing those in the east to see more of the partial eclipse.

“[The Moon] rises during the partial eclipse, but it will still be low in the sky when the partial eclipse is happening,” noted Professor Horner.

The timing will enhance the Moon’s appearance due to a phenomenon known as the “Moon illusion,” which makes the Moon seem larger when it’s near the horizon compared to when it’s high in the sky.

Will I witness a ‘blood moon’ from Australia?

Regrettably, no one in Australia will see a “blood moon” at any time.

Those who manage to see the partial eclipse will only view a tiny segment of the Moon in shadow, which will diminish as the Moon climbs.

It will appear dark, not red, due to the amount of moonlight still being reflected.

“It simply appears as though a piece has been removed from the Moon,” stated Professor Horner.

“It won’t resemble a three-quarter moon, as the curve will be oriented incorrectly.”

This will be visible even during twilight, but given the brief viewing window in some locations, make sure to head out early.

Additionally, with few locations available to witness it, another concern for this eclipse might be the weather, as clouds and rain are forecasted in certain areas. Therefore, check the Bureau of Meteorology for local forecasts.

What exactly is a lunar eclipse?

Just to clarify, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, with Earth positioned in the center.

The Moon travels through the shadow cast by the Earth, leading to a red hue on its surface.

What you observe depends on the precision of the alignment.

Lunar eclipses typically occur one or two times each year and can take place at any time of night.

An eclipse happens simultaneously wherever you are on Earth, though you can only observe it when the full Moon is above the horizon between sunset and sunrise within your time zone.

There are three distinct phases.

The total or “blood moon” eclipse is when the full Moon completely enters Earth’s shadow, turning various shades of red.

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The Americas have the best view for this event.

This phase occurs late at night or early morning in US time zones, which translates to the afternoon in Australia, completely ending before the Moon rises in the eastern parts of Australia.

“I’m thrilled for those in North America,” said Professor Horner.

A partial eclipse is the phase immediately before and after a total eclipse, where the shadow only partially covers the Moon. That’s what will be seen on Friday from Australia’s east coast.

Meanwhile, a penumbral eclipse occurs on either end, at the beginning and end of the eclipse.

During this phase, a portion of the Sun is obscured by the Earth, but none of the Moon is entirely shrouded in darkness.

“That’s when the Moon slides into the Earth’s shadow,” explained Professor Horner.

This may cause the Moon to seem slightly dimmer, but he noted that anyone gazing at it would probably not perceive this change.

Areas as far west as Adelaide and Darwin may witness the conclusion of this phase — if it is visible at all.

When is the next eclipse for Australians?

If this event turns out to be anticlimactic, Professor Horner pointed out that there are numerous other eclipses upcoming that are far more thrilling.

For those willing to wake up in the early hours of Monday, September 8, there will be a total lunar eclipse, or “blood moon,” visible from any location in Australia.

“That’s around an hour of the Moon showcasing as a blood moon,” Professor Horner remarked.

Then, in March 2026, another total lunar eclipse will be visible in the early evening across Australia.

Another early morning eclipse will occur in December 2028.

Australia is also strategically positioned for several total solar eclipses in the coming years.

“In 2028, 2030, 2037, and 2038, we have an exciting sequence of four total solar eclipses in Australia,” Professor Horner mentioned.

“These events will be truly remarkable.

“I want to ensure that people don’t go out for this [lunar eclipse] and feel disheartened, missing out on the other, potentially much better experiences.”