Total lunar eclipses are a little bit like supermoons because they come in batches. You get a couple of years to see a few of them before a long wait for the next one. March’s full moon features a total lunar eclipse, and it’s the final in a trio of such eclipses that dates back to March 2025. If you miss this one, you won’t get another chance to see another until New Year’s Eve in 2028.
According to The Farmer’s Almanac, March’s full moon is happening on March 3. It’ll reach peak illumination, when the moon is at its fullest, at 6:38 a.m. ET. You won’t see the full moon in all of its majesty, even if you’re outside at that exact time, 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.
Those hoping to see the eclipse should consider brewing an extra pot of coffee. The show starts 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 starts to block sunlight. This phase lasts until 4:50 a.m. ET when the moon enters the umbra, the spot behind Earth where all direct light from the sun 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. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue wavelengths scatter, while longer red and orange hues are refracted toward the moon. This gives the blood moon its signature reddish look.
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 final time.
Will I see the lunar eclipse?
Everyone in North America will have a chance to see the lunar eclipse, though not everyone will experience it equally. The central path of the eclipse rips right down 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 of the eclipse you’ll be able to see.
The website Time and Date offers a map showing who can see the eclipse and how much they’ll see. It’s almost perfectly lined up with US time zones, so here’s how well you’ll be able to see the eclipse based on where you live.
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Pacific Time: The full eclipse will be visible from beginning to end.
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Mountain Time: The full eclipse will be visible, but you may miss part of the penumbra phase.
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Central Time: The entire eclipse will be visible, but you’ll miss more of the penumbra phase. People residing near the western end of the Eastern Time Zone will also experience this level of eclipse.
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Eastern time: Most of the eclipse will be visible, and you’ll 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 see the lunar eclipse.
It’ll be the brightest thing in the night sky, and the moonlight isn’t a danger to human eyes as it would be during a solar eclipse.
The only thing you’ll need is caffeine, because this all takes place in the middle of the night and very early morning.
The next lunar eclipse
Total lunar eclipses tend to happen in batches of three. The last two occurred in March and September 2025, with the final member of the trio coming on March 3, 2026. Once that one passes, the next trio of lunar eclipses won’t happen until Dec. 31, 2028, followed by June and December 2029.
