The total lunar eclipse, commonly referred to as the “blood moon”, will occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 (Photo: Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)

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A total lunar eclipse, commonly referred to as a “blood moon,” will occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, and western North America will be in the best position to see it in its entirety. This relatively shallow solar eclipse, visible before dawn across the United States, will turn the moon a reddish color for 58 minutes until it enters the Earth’s central shadow. This is the only total lunar eclipse of the year and the last to occur on Earth until December 31, 2028.

What is a total lunar eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth’s center to umbrella A shadow that swallows the moon. As a result, the moon gradually dims, followed by a short but dramatic overall glow of red light as thousands of sunsets are projected onto the moon’s surface. All lunar eclipses are completely safe to observe with the naked eye at any time.

Why is this total lunar eclipse so special?

This total solar eclipse will last 58 minutes and 18 seconds, and the moon will be about 15% of Earth’s dark umbra. Although it won’t be as deep as past eclipses, it will still be an impressive sight, especially from the western parts of North America, where the best views will be seen.

A total of 2.5 billion people, or about 31% of the world’s population, will have a chance to see the red moon during the totality period, with the best viewing conditions likely to be in the southwestern United States, northwestern Mexico, and inland Australia, where skies are typically at their clearest in March.

This solar eclipse will be the last total lunar eclipse from 2028 to New Year’s Eve 2029, and will be visible in parts of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. After this March event, Earth’s shadow will only graze the Moon, leading to low-impact partial and penumbral solar eclipses in late 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Exact time of “blood moon” in North America

On March 3, the eclipse will begin at 08:44 UTC (3:44 a.m. EST), and the most dramatic part, totality, will occur between 11:04 and 12:02 UTC. Here are the local times for totality time in the U.S. time zone (but be sure to be outside an hour early to see Earth’s shadow moving over the Moon).

• Eastern: 6:04-7:02 a.m. EST (moon sets during totality)
• Central: 5:04 AM – 6:02 AM CST
• Mountain: 4:04am – 5:02am (MST)
• Pacific Time: 3:04 AM – 4:02 AM PST
• Alaska: 2:04 AM – 3:02 AM (AKST)
• Hawaii: 1:04am – 2:02am (HST)

Those living in the western United States and Canada will see the moon high in the sky during totality, but those living in eastern states will need an unobstructed western horizon as the moon sets.

Why the moon turns red during a total lunar eclipse

When the moon is completely within the Earth’s umbra, it is illuminated by sunlight passing through the Earth’s atmosphere, rather than by direct sunlight. This process, called Rayleigh scattering, scatters short-wavelength blue light and bends long-wavelength red light toward the moon.

As a result, the entire surface of the moon has a reddish-orange glow. However, the strength and color of a “blood moon” will depend on how much dust, water vapor, and other particles are present in Earth’s atmosphere at the time of the eclipse. Recent volcanic eruptions can cause a “blood moon” to appear blood red.

I wish you clear skies and big eyes.