Metro Vancouver residents will have a rare opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse, often called a “blood moon,” in the early hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The event, where the Earth’s shadow will completely cover the moon, is expected to begin at 12:44 a.m. Pacific Time.
According to Matthew Cimone, senior space science interpreter at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, the moon will be totally eclipsed for approximately 30 minutes, between 3:33 a.m. And 4:02 a.m. PT. The entire event, from the initial contact of the Earth’s shadow to its completion, is anticipated to last around six hours.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes entirely into the Earth’s umbra – the darkest part of its shadow. During this time, the moon doesn’t disappear completely, but instead takes on a reddish hue, giving rise to the “blood moon” moniker. Cimone explained this coloration is due to the Earth’s atmosphere filtering sunlight and scattering away most of the blue light, allowing the red wavelengths to reach the lunar surface.
“This is one of the great things about an event like this is almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky would work,” Cimone said. He recommends observers find a location away from tall buildings and trees for an unobstructed view.
The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre recently premiered a family-friendly film, “Total Eclipse: Chasers of Lost Sleep,” which centers around eclipses. The movie follows Kentucky, an insomniac hen and social media star who lives on the Moon, and her android companion JOS as they search for the perfect solar eclipse.
Cimone encourages continued observation of the night sky, noting the importance of preserving dark skies. “I always say any time is a good time to look up,” he stated. “The world is always made better the more wonder there is…we need to preserve it whenever possible by thinking about light pollution or now that we’re filling the sky with satellites that obscure our ability to study and understand the universe.”
The next eclipse visible from Canada will be a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, according to the Canadian Space Agency.
