Rare "Blood Moon" to light up Bulgaria’s night sky on 7 September

A rare lunar spectacle is expected to be visible over Bulgaria on Sunday, 7 September, when a total lunar eclipse – often referred to as a Blood Moon – will colour the Moon shades of orange and red.

The eclipse occurs just days before the Moon reaches its perigee — the point in its orbit when it is closest to Earth — making it appear larger than usual. Around 36% of the Moon's diameter will pass through the darkest part of Earth's shadow, producing a deep, richly coloured eclipse.

This will be visible in Bulgaria from 18:28 to 23:55 local time, peaking at full eclipse at around 21:12 for nearly one hour and 20 minutes.

To mark the event, the village of Beli Iskar at the foot of the Rila Mountains will host its first “Moon Fest” on the same evening. The open-air gathering will feature music ranging from rock, blues and hip hop to jazz, classical and ethno-fusion. Bulgarian and international performers will take to the stage, with electronic music artist and producer Ivan Shopov closing the programme by blending folk, jazz and electronic rhythms in a dance performance.

Entry to the festival is free, and camping is permitted on site. According to the organisers, the combination of mountain scenery, clean air and the rare lunar eclipse will create a memorable experience.