A total lunar eclipse, coinciding with March’s full “Worm Moon,” will cast a reddish hue across the skies of North America in the early hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The eclipse will be particularly visible across western portions of the continent, with approximately 176 million people, or 2% of the world’s population, expected to witness the complete phases, according to TimeandDate.com.
The celestial event begins when the Moon enters Earth’s penumbra – the outer edge of its shadow – at 3:44 a.m. EST (12:44 a.m. PST). The umbra, the darker, central part of Earth’s shadow, will begin to envelop the Moon at 4:50 a.m. EST (1:50 a.m. PST). Totality, the period when the Moon is fully immersed in the umbra, will last from 6:04 a.m. To 7:02 a.m. EST, peaking at 6:33 a.m. EST. The Moon will then exit the umbra at 8:17 a.m. EST (5:17 a.m. PST) and the penumbra at 9:22 a.m. EST (6:22 a.m. PST).
During totality, Earth’s shadow will cause the Moon to darken and take on a coppery red or orange glow, a phenomenon often referred to as a “Blood Moon.” This color change occurs as sunlight is filtered through Earth’s atmosphere and bent towards the Moon. The Old Farmer’s Almanac notes that no special equipment is needed to observe the eclipse; it can be viewed with the naked eye.
March’s full moon is traditionally known as the “Worm Moon,” a name originating from Indigenous American, Colonial American, and European sources, referencing the emergence of earthworms and other creatures as the landscape awakens from winter. This year’s Worm Moon is especially notable due to the coinciding total lunar eclipse.
The eclipse will be visible across much of North America, parts of South America, East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. Residents of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington are expected to have the best views of the eclipse’s peak totality. This will be the last total lunar eclipse visible in the United States until June 2029, according to NASA.
The total eclipse duration, including the penumbral and partial phases, is estimated to be 5 hours and 39 minutes. The next total lunar eclipse will not occur until New Year’s Eve 2028-2029.
