A total lunar eclipse will occur in March. It’s like a supermoon in that they come in batches, so you only have a few chances to see them before a long wait. This is the last eclipse in a trio that began in 2025. If you miss this one, you won’t have another opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse until New Year’s Eve in 2028.
According to The Farmer’s Almanac, the March full moon will occur on March 3. It will reach peak illumination, when the moon is at its fullest, at 6:38 a.m. ET. But you won’t see the full moon in all its majesty, even if you’re outside at that very moment, because the moon will be in the middle of its eclipse.
A lunar eclipse causes the moon to glow red, which is why people call it a blood moon.
NASA Simulation LaboratoryThose hoping to view the eclipse should consider packing an extra pot of coffee. The show begins at 3:44 a.m. ET as the moon begins to move into Earth’s shadow, a region known as the penumbra. The Moon will darken during this time as Earth begins to block sunlight. This phase lasts until 4:50 a.m. ET, when the Moon enters the umbra, the place behind Earth where all direct sunlight is blocked. The Moon will enter its maximum eclipse at 6:33 a.m. ET.
The moon will turn into a blood moon during this time. When sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, the shorter blue wavelengths scatter, while the longer red and orange hues are refracted toward the moon. This gives the blood moon its characteristic reddish appearance.
This phase of the eclipse will last until 8:17 a.m. ET, when the moon enters penumbra again. The eclipse ends at 9:23 a.m. once it leaves the penumbra for the last time.
Will I see the lunar eclipse?
Everyone in North America will have the chance to see the lunar eclipse, although not everyone will experience it in the same way. The central path of the eclipse passes through the center of the Pacific Ocean, so only people on the West Coast, Alaska and western Canada can see the whole thing. The further east you go, the less you will be able to see the eclipse.
The Time and Date website has a map showing who can see the eclipse and how much they will see. It’s almost perfectly aligned with US time zones, so here’s how well you’ll be able to see the eclipse depending on where you live.
- Pacific Time: The full eclipse will be visible from start to finish.
- Mountain Time: The total eclipse will be visible, but you may miss part of the penumbra phase.
- Central time: The entire eclipse will be visible, but you will miss the penumbra phase more. People living near the western end of the Eastern Time Zone will also experience this level of eclipse.
- Eastern Time: Most of the eclipse will be visible and you will miss a significant part of the penumbra phase.
Do I need special equipment to see the lunar eclipse?
You won’t need any special equipment to view the lunar eclipse.
It will be the brightest thing in the night sky, and the moonlight does not pose a danger to human eyes as it would during a solar eclipse.
The only thing you’ll need is caffeine, since this all happens in the middle of the night and very early in the morning.
The next lunar eclipse
Total lunar eclipses tend to occur in batches of three. The last two took place in March and September 2025, with the last member of the trio expected on March 3, 2026. Once this has passed, the next trio of lunar eclipses will not occur until December 31, 2028, followed by June and December 2029.
