Total Lunar Eclipse March 2026: When & How to See the Blood Moon

Total Lunar Eclipse Quick Facts

A total lunar eclipse will be visible across the United States early Tuesday morning (March 3).

The eclipse will take place from 3:44 am EST until 9:23 am EST. Totality will begin around 6:04 am EST and last until about 7:03 am EST. According to NASA, we will not have another one until 2029.

Tuesday morning’s sunrise will be around 6:44 am EST. This means we should be able to see the beginning of totality before sunrise, if the weather cooperates. Total lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye or through a telescope, so no special glasses needed for this one!

Blood Moon… What does it mean?

During a lunar eclipse, the Moon takes on a reddish hue due to Earth’s atmosphere scattering sunlight. Instead of Earth reflecting light, what actually happens is that Earth’s atmosphere filters out shorter blue wavelengths, allowing longer red wavelengths to reach the Moon. This effect makes the Moon appear to glow a reddish hue, often referred to as a “Blood Moon.”

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon. A total lunar eclipse happens when the Moon is completely within Earth’s shadow, which can only occur during a full moon.

March’s Full Moon

The Moon will be at its fullest on March 3 at 6:38 am EST, coinciding with the lunar eclipse. If you miss it at its peak, the Moon will still appear full from Monday night through Wednesday morning.

The March full moon is traditionally known as the Worm Moon.

Worm Moon Forecast

So, will clouds in Central PA ruin the show? Right now, clouds increase Monday night into Tuesday morning before a wintry mix arrives. I think we may be able to see the partial eclipse, but clouds and precipitation may hinder our view during totality. Also, we will be dealing with the sun rising too. I’d love to see your photos if you take any!

As we get closer to Tuesday morning, we’ll have a better idea of whether cloud cover and a wintry mix will increase and impact visibility.

Temperatures Monday night into Tuesday morning will be in the upper 20s to lower 30s, so it will be a bit brisk to catch the full worm moon.

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