A total lunar eclipse will cast Earth’s shadow across the full moon on March 3, creating a reddish “blood moon” visible in the early morning hours across much of North America, with no special gear required for viewing.
The event coincides with the March full worm moon, named for the seasonal emergence of earthworms and other invertebrates as soil warms and wildlife stirs from hibernation, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
A lunar eclipse happens when Earth aligns directly between the sun and a full moon, blocking most direct sunlight and filtering the remainder through the planet’s atmosphere, which scatters blue light and leaves a reddish hue — similar to the colors of global sunrises and sunsets projected onto the lunar surface.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses pose no eye risk and can be observed safely without protection. Viewers need only a clear view of the moon, ideally in a dark location away from city lights. Binoculars or telescopes can improve the experience.
Totality will appear in the evening from eastern Asia and Australia, overnight in the Pacific, and early morning in North and Central America and far western South America. A partial eclipse is visible in central Asia and much of South America, with no eclipse in Africa or Europe.
In the U.S., the spectacle is viewable nationwide, though best in the West, where the moon turns fiery reddish-orange for nearly an hour. On the East Coast, the moon may set during the peak.
The eclipse spans more than five hours overall, with the total phase lasting about 58 minutes.
Key stages include:
- Penumbral eclipse begins (2:44 a.m. CST, 12:44 a.m. PST, 8:44 UTC): The moon enters Earth’s outer shadow, subtly dimming.
- Partial eclipse begins (3:50 a.m. CST, 1:50 a.m. PST, 9:50 UTC): The moon enters the darker umbra, appearing as if a bite is taken from its disk.
- Totality begins (5:04 a.m. CST, 3:04 a.m. PST, 11:04 UTC): The full moon enters the umbra, turning coppery red.
- Maximum eclipse (5:33 a.m. CST, 3:33 a.m. PST, 11:33 UTC): Peak redness.
- Totality ends (6:03 a.m. CST, 4:03 a.m. PST, 12:03 UTC): The red fades as the moon exits the umbra.
- Partial eclipse ends (7:17 a.m. CST, 5:17 a.m. PST, 13:17 UTC): The moon fully leaves the umbra.
- Penumbral eclipse ends (8:23 a.m. CST, 6:23 a.m. PST, 14:23 UTC): Dimming ends.
For photography, use a tripod-mounted camera with exposures of several seconds. Those outside prime viewing areas can watch a live stream on Time and Date.
During the eclipse, the shadowed moon may make constellations more visible than under typical full-moon brightness. The moon will sit in Leo, beneath the lion’s hind paws.
Several days later, on March 8, Venus and Saturn will appear close in the sky from Earth’s viewpoint, forming a conjunction despite their vast actual separation.