Residents across China will have a rare opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse in the early hours of September 8, the only such event visible to the naked eye in its entirety from the country this year.
The upcoming lunar eclipse, which occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon form a perfect straight line, will commence at 00:27 on September 8. At this time, the Moon will begin to enter Earth's shadow, initiating a process that will last approximately 3.5 hours.
During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon transitions from its usual bright white to a mysterious reddish-copper hue, creating a stunning celestial spectacle.
The lunar eclipse process unfolds through five distinct phases: the beginning of partial eclipse, the beginning of total eclipse, maximum eclipse or totality, the end of total eclipse, and the end of partial eclipse.
As the eclipse reaches totality, the Moon will take on a striking coppery-red color. The most dramatic phase, known as the peak of totality, is expected to occur at 02:12, when the Moon is deepest within Earth's shadow and appears darkest and reddest.
"The red hue of the Moon is caused by sunlight being filtered and scattered by Earth's atmosphere, which bends red light toward the Moon. This is why we see a red Moon during a total lunar eclipse which will last for about one hour and 23 minutes," said Gao Heng, a senior engineer of Yunnan Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The totality phase will end at 02:53, and the entire eclipse will conclude by 03:57, when the Moon fully regains its bright silvery appearance.
This lunar eclipse offers favorable viewing conditions as the full Moon will be at a moderate altitude in the sky.
For optimal observation, it is recommended to avoid city light pollution and find an unobstructed viewing spot toward the southwest. While the eclipse can be enjoyed with the naked eye, those with access to a telescope may enjoy an even more detailed view.
Spectacular total lunar eclipse to grace skies across China on Sept 8
China's two major power grid operators -- the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) -- reported a surge in investment in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring efforts to strengthen infrastructure construction and support high-quality socioeconomic development in China.
The State Grid said it completed fixed-asset investment worth 129 billion yuan (about 18.77 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three months of this year, up 37 percent the corresponding period of the previous year. The spending has driven more than 250 billion yuan (36 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across the wider industrial chain.
Key projects such as the Panxi ultra-high-voltage (UHV) alternating current (AC) line and the Anhui-Hubei back-to-back direct current (DC) project have seen ground broken for their construction, while several west-to-east power transmission projects have been upgraded.
Investment in connecting renewable energy generation to the grid was reported to have exceeded 10 billion yuan (1.45 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March, a year-on-year rise of more than 50 percent.
The CSG also reported robust growth in investment in the three-month period, with fixed-asset investment reaching 38.45 billion yuan (5.58 billion U.S. dollars), up about 50 percent from a year earlier.
Among its achievements, the company completed and commissioned 80 key projects, including the 220 kV cross-sea power grid interconnection project, which was officially put into operation on March 20. The project ended years of grid isolation on the Weizhou Island in south China by linking it to the main power system of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The construction of 17 other major energy projects, including one linking the power grid of the Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China with that of Guangdong Province in south China, is advancing rapidly. These projects are expected to bolster regional industries, the maritime economy, digital collaboration and the transition to green energy.
"By accelerating major project construction, investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is expected to approach 1 trillion yuan (145 billion U.S. dollars), driving a further 2 trillion yuan (290 billion U.S. dollars) of investment across upstream and downstream industries," said Dong Yanle, deputy general manager of the Engineering Construction Department under the China Southern Power Grid.
China ramps up power grid investment in January-March to boost growth
