Total Lunar Eclipse Sequence over Egypt’s White Desert

On 7 September 2025, the Moon rose in eclipse over Egypt’s White Desert, creating a rare alignment between celestial motion and earthly wonder. This composite image traces the full sequence of the total lunar eclipse as it arced above the iconic Mushroom and Chicken Rock formations.

From first contact with Earth’s shadow through the deep red glow of totality, and then back to the brilliance of a full Moon, each phase is captured in precise order. The copper hue at mid-sequence is caused by sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere, filtering and scattering shorter wavelengths and casting the Moon into a soft crimson light.

Set against the chalk formations of the White Desert, this image unites astronomy and geology in a timeless tableau, where cosmic cycles mirror the sculpting forces of nature on Earth.

Location: White Desert National Park, Egypt
Date: 7 September 2025

Technical Details:

Camera: Nikon Z6

Lens: Nikkor 24mm, 180-600mm

Sequence: Multiple exposures composited to capture all eclipse phases

Tripod mounted, manual tracking of eclipse intervals

Processing: Composite alignment and color correction to preserve natural tones