A stunning total lunar eclipse will light up the evening sky on March 13 and 14. The event is the first total lunar eclipse visible anywhere on Earth since November 2022 and begins a sequence of three eclipses between 2025 and 2026.
If you're currently in North America, here's what you need to know about its viewing times.
What is a Total Lunar Eclipse?
As Space.com explains, a total lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth passes between the full moon and the sun, casting a shadow over the moon's surface. When the eclipse approaches its state of totality, the moon is deeply reddish-orange colored, where it is dubbed the "Blood Moon."
This macabre and breathtaking sight is achieved by the fact that the shorter wavelengths of light are being scattered by the Earth's atmosphere but letting in the longer orange and red wavelengths, which get bent into Earth's umbra, or darkest section of shadow. The very same phenomenon colorfully lights sunsets and sunrises.
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Best Places and Times to View the Lunar Eclipse
North and South America will enjoy prime visibility for this total lunar eclipse. Parts of Western Europe will also get a brief glimpse before the moon sets.
Totality will last for an impressive 65 minutes, offering a fantastic opportunity to witness this rare phenomenon. Here are the key times for peak totality across North America:
Eastern Time (ET): 2:26 a.m. – 3:31 a.m. (March 14)
Central Time (CT): 1:26 a.m. – 2:31 a.m. (March 14)
Mountain Time (MT): 12:26 a.m. – 1:31 a.m. (March 14)
Pacific Time (PT): 11:26 p.m. (March 13) – 12:31 a.m. (March 14)
Alaska Time (AKDT): 10:26 p.m. – 11:31 p.m. (March 13)
Hawaii Time (HST): 8:26 p.m. – 9:31 p.m. (March 13)
For optimal experience, plan on going outside about 75 minutes before and after totality to see the gradual change as Earth's shadow creeps across and then recedes from the surface of the full moon.
How to Watch the Total Lunar Eclipse
Lunar eclipses are totally safe to view with the naked eye. Well, the case is different if you want to view solar eclipses.
No specialized equipment is needed, but binoculars or a telescope can make the experience more enjoyable by showing the fine details on the moon's surface as it changes colors.
To enjoy this celestial occurrence to the fullest, take these tips:
- Choose a dark spot from city lights to catch the best sight.
- Verify the weather forecast for clear skies during the night of the eclipse.
- Carry a camera or phone with night photo mode to catch the moment.
- If you have a telescope, fine-tune the focus to have a close-up view of the surface of the Blood Moon.
Missed It? More Lunar Eclipses Are Coming
If you miss this lunar eclipse, don't worry—there are better chances to come! The next total lunar eclipse will fall on Sept. 7-8, 2025, and will be visible throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas, according to EarthSky.
Another Blood Moon will appear on March 2-3, 2026, and be visible throughout most of the world, including North America.
With only a month to wait, now is the ideal time to organize your eclipse-viewing experience. Maybe the astronomer within you is just hiding.
