A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon a dramatic shade of red on March 3, 2026, offering a striking celestial display for observers across North America, Australia, and parts of Asia. The eclipse, often called a “blood moon” due to the reddish hue the moon takes on when fully immersed in Earth’s shadow, will be the last total lunar eclipse visible globally until December 31, 2028, and January 1, 2029.
The eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is safe to view with the naked eye. The reddish color is caused by sunlight being filtered and refracted through Earth’s atmosphere, scattering away most of the blue light and leaving primarily red wavelengths to reach the moon.
Totality, the period when the moon is completely within Earth’s umbra, will last for approximately 58 minutes, beginning at 6:04 a.m. EST (1104 GMT) and ending at 7:02 a.m. EST (1202 GMT). However, viewing times will vary significantly depending on location.
For observers in the Eastern Time Zone, the moon will enter totality but will set during the eclipse, limiting the duration of the visible blood moon. Central Time Zone viewers can expect to witness the eclipse unfold between 5:04 a.m. And 6:02 a.m. CST on March 3. Mountain Time observers will have a viewing window from 4:04 a.m. To 5:02 a.m. MST, while those on the Pacific Coast can witness the eclipse from 3:04 a.m. To 4:02 a.m. PST. Further west, observers in Alaska will see totality from 2:04 a.m. To 3:02 a.m. AKST, and those in Hawaii from 1:04 a.m. To 2:02 a.m. HST.
Detailed eclipse timings and visibility maps are available through Time and Date, allowing users to input their specific location for accurate predictions. The eclipse will be visible across a broad swath of the globe, including parts of Europe, as well as North and South America, Asia, Australia, the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, and even the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
Cities where at least part of the total eclipse will be visible include Lima, Peru; Latest York, USA; Montreal, Canada; Manila, Philippines; Hanoi, Vietnam; Melbourne, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Jakarta, Indonesia; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Hong Kong; Chicago, USA; Washington D.C.; Guatemala City; Havana, Cuba; Bangkok, Thailand; Seoul, South Korea; Honolulu, USA; Singapore; San Francisco and Los Angeles, USA; Shanghai, China; Detroit, USA; San Salvador, El Salvador; New Orleans, USA; Tokyo, Japan; Mexico City; Brisbane, Australia; and Beijing, China.
Skywatchers are encouraged to find a location away from city lights to maximize visibility. The next opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse will not occur until the New Year’s Eve/Day eclipse of 2028-2029.
