Watch the Moon Turn Red: Total Lunar Eclipse in March
A Spectacular Celestial Event
Skygazers across the Western Hemisphere are in for a treat as a total lunar eclipse is set to turn the moon red on Thursday night into early Friday morning. The best viewing locations will be in North and South America, while parts of Africa and Europe may catch a partial glimpse of this stunning phenomenon.
Lunar eclipses occur when the sun, Earth, and moon align perfectly, causing Earth to cast its shadow on the moon. During a total lunar eclipse, the full moon is completely covered by Earth’s shadow and takes on a striking coppery-red hue. This happens because some sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere, scattering blue light and allowing only red light to reach the moon. Partial lunar eclipses, on the other hand, create the appearance of a “bite” taken out of the moon.
According to NASA, lunar and solar eclipses occur between four to seven times a year. The last total lunar eclipse was in 2022, while a partial lunar eclipse was visible across the Americas, Africa, and Europe last September.
This “blood moon” will be visible for about an hour, starting at 2:26 a.m. Eastern on Friday, with peak viewing at around 3 a.m. Eastern. Unlike solar eclipses, no special glasses or equipment are required—just step outside and look up.
“As long as the sky is clear, you should be able to see it,” said Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.
However, the setting moon may make it more challenging to see the eclipse in Europe and Africa.
“This is really an eclipse for North and South America,” said Yale University astronomy expert Michael Faison.
If you can’t catch this one, don’t worry—another total lunar eclipse will occur on September 7, visible across parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. The Americas will have to wait until March 2026 for their next total lunar eclipse.
Lunar eclipses have fascinated civilizations for thousands of years. Ancient cultures closely observed the night sky, often attaching deep meanings to these celestial events.
Historian Zoe Ortiz of the University of North Texas noted that even early civilizations had a remarkable understanding of celestial movements. Aristotle, for example, observed that the Earth’s shadow during a lunar eclipse was always curved, providing early proof that the Earth is round.
In ancient Mesopotamia, a blood-red moon was seen as a bad omen for the king. To protect their ruler, they would install a substitute king around the time of the eclipse to absorb any misfortune.
“If there’s ever a movie plot,” Ortiz joked, “that’s the one.”
With a deep history and a breathtaking visual effect, lunar eclipses continue to captivate and inspire people around the world. Don’t miss this chance to witness one firsthand!
