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RIYADH: On Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, the skies above �������� will feature a total lunar eclipse, fully visible across the Kingdom.
The phenomenon will also be seen in much of Asia and Africa, as well as parts of Australia and Europe. It will last for about 83 minutes and will rank among the longest total lunar eclipses in recent years, offering observers a rare and remarkable celestial event.
Viewers in the Kingdom will be able to observe the eclipse starting at 6:27 p.m. KSA time, when the moon first enters the penumbral shadow. The partial phase begins at 7:27 p.m., followed by the total eclipse at 8:30 p.m., which will last until 9:53 p.m. The entire eclipse concludes at 11:57 p.m.
Zaki Al-Mostafa, a researcher at the Space Research Institute at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, explained that a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow over the moon and causing it to darken.
He said that a total lunar eclipse occurs when the entire near side of the moon passes fully into Earth’s shadow. Unlike solar eclipses, which can only be observed from relatively small areas of the globe and last just a few minutes, total lunar eclipses can be seen from anywhere on Earth’s night side and may last for up to two hours.
Al-Mostafa added that “each lunar eclipse is usually followed by a solar eclipse, though it is rare for them to occur consecutively. A partial solar eclipse is expected on September 21, 2025, but it will not be visible from the Kingdom.”
Al-Mostafa said that KACST, as a national laboratory, is committed to monitoring astronomical phenomena such as solar and lunar eclipses, new moons, and meteor showers using state-of-the-art astronomical equipment at fixed and mobile observatories.
The institution is equipped with scientific experts to oversee all astronomical events and activities, reinforcing its status as a national reference in the field. In addition, KACST actively works to promote astronomical awareness by organizing educational and interactive programs for the public, fostering greater interest and engagement in astronomy.

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief delivered food parcels to people in need in Lebanon and Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In Tripoli, Lebanon, the agency distributed 442 food parcels, which benefited 2,210 people.

In Sudan, meanwhile, KSrelief distributed 1,500 food packages to communities in Al-Qutayna affected by heavy rain and floods.

The aid benefited 7,515 people and was part of the third phase of the 2025 Food Security Support Project in the Republic of Sudan.