Staying up late next week might pay off. total lunar eclipse It’s happening.

The only lunar eclipse of 2026 will begin on Tuesday, March 3 at approximately 9:45 p.m., according to Stardome.

“In just 10 days, Aotearoa New Zealand will have a front row seat to a total lunar eclipse, the only lunar eclipse of 2026.”

The moon will begin to move into Earth’s shadow and “slowly darken, taking on a crimson hue around 11 p.m.”

Also known as a total solar eclipse. “Blood Moon” – It will occur just after midnight on Wednesday, March 4, and the best time to catch it is around 12:30 a.m.

Stardome said no special equipment was needed to view the eclipse.

“You can clearly see the sky with just your eyes, so be sure to check your local weather forecast if you plan on admiring this dazzling celestial display.

“Although a total lunar eclipse won’t occur until 2028, we are one of the few places in the Pacific Ocean to see its entire unfolding. Only an estimated 2 percent of Earth’s population will be able to view this total lunar eclipse from beginning to end.”

MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons said there was “reasonably good news” at this stage in that the weather was expected to improve across much of the country by the time the eclipse occurred.

However, it is a nighttime event and visibility may be obscured by the possibility of cloud cover at night.

It was too early to tell about the best places to view the eclipse across Aotearoa, and viewers were urged to check the forecast as the time approached.

According to NASA, the total solar eclipse will also be visible in East Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and North and Central America.

It will be partially visible from much of Central Asia and South America, but not from Africa or Europe.

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