A total lunar eclipse and the resulting glowing red “blood moon” will spellbind spectators in North and South America and Western Africa tonight for the first time in nearly three years.
The celestial event, which will see the moon change to rusty red hues, will begin late Thursday night and will continue into the early hours of Friday, March 14, as the Earth passes between the sun and moon. According to NASA, another total lunar eclipse won’t be visible in the U.S. until March 2026.
This year’s total lunar eclipse will be visible over North America, South America, and the Western parts of Europe andAfrica. Those in the U.S. can see the eclipse starting at 11:57 p.m. ET when the penumbral phase begins, during which the moon travels through Earth’s penumbra, or the faint outer part of its shadow, according to NASA.The agency predicts the moon will complete all of the eclipse phases in just over 6 hours and will end at 6 a.m. ET.
Unlike the total solar eclipse in April 2024, the upcoming total lunar eclipse, the first since November 2022, doesn’t require special equipment to witness safely. Here’s what to know about how to safely see the stunning phenomenon.
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Is the lunar eclipse safe to look at? How to see the eclipse
Yes, the lunar eclipse is safe to look at and you can safely observe the celestial occurrence with the naked eye and without any special equipment, NASA says, though “binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view.”
The agency adds that a “dark environment away from bright lights makes for the best viewing conditions.”
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Do I need glasses to see the lunar eclipse?
No special glasses are needed to view the lunar eclipse, and one can directly look at the moon without hesitation.
On the other hand, proper viewing glasses and other necessary safety precautions are important while observing a solar eclipse as the powerful rays of the sun can burn and damage your retinas.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth. When this happens, Earth blocks the sunlight that normally reaches the moon. Instead of that sunlight hitting the moon’s surface, Earth’s shadow falls on it.
Lunar eclipses are often also referred to as a “blood moon” because when the Earth’s shadow covers the moon, it often produces a red color. The coloration happens because a bit of reddish sunlight still reaches the moon’s surface, even though it’s in Earth’s shadow.
The uncommon celestial phenomenon, which Americans haven’t had the opportunity to witness for nearly three years, can only occur when the moon is full and aligning perfectly with the Earth and sun.
Get the best views: Who can see the total lunar eclipse tonight?
What time is the total lunar eclipse?
The website Time and Date predicts the moon will complete all of the eclipse phases in 6 hours and 3 minutes.
In the U.S., the eclipse is expected to begin around 11:57 p.m. EDT Thursday, with the totality occurring at 2:26 a.m. EDT Friday when the entire moon is under the umbra. This is when the reddish hues of the “blood moon” will be on display.
The best moment for viewing depends on where you live in the U.S. According to Time and Date and Space.com, prime viewing for different U.S. regions occurs at specific times:
- Eastern Time: 2:26-3:32 a.m. EDT on Friday
- Central Time: 1:26-2:32 a.m. CDT on Friday
- Mountain Time: 12:26-1:32 a.m. MDT on Friday
- Pacific: 11:26 p.m. on Thursday into 12:32 a.m. PDT on Friday
- Alaska: 10:26-11:32 p.m. AKDT on Thursday
- Hawaii: 8:26-9:32 p.m. HST on Thursday
Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Janet Loehrke, Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
