A total lunar eclipse occurring in March 2026 will showcase a dramatic blood moon across the skies of North America, Australia, New Zealand, and East Asia. Knowing the right locations is crucial to witness this event.
Redaksiya reports that the first lunar eclipse of March 2026 will turn the moon into a coppery-red "blood moon" for skywatchers in North America. The long-lasting and impressive blood moon is expected to be watched by billions, but what you see will depend on where you are watching from, on March 3rd.
What is a total lunar eclipse? A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is positioned between the Moon and the Sun. With the Moon in Earth's shadow, the only light that reaches the Moon's surface is filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which casts it in a red hue, earning it the name "blood moon." Best places to see the eclipse: The total blood moon eclipse will be visible on Earth's night side on March 3rd, but the best views will be from western North America, Australia, and the Pacific Ocean. If you can get to a dark spot with a clear sky, you'll have the best view.
Totality, meaning the Moon being completely engulfed by Earth's shadow, will last for 58 minutes, from 6:04 AM to 7:02 AM EST (1104 GMT to 1202 GMT). This corresponds to the following local times in North America: Eastern Time: March 3, 2026, 6:04 AM - 7:02 AM EST (the Moon will set during totality in the Eastern Time Zone) Central Time: March 3, 2026, 5:04 AM - 6:02 AM CST Mountain Time: March 3, 2026, 4:04 AM - 5:02 AM MST Pacific Time: March 3, 2026, 3:04 AM - 4:02 AM PST Alaska Time: March 3, 2026, 2:04 AM - 3:02 AM AKST Hawaii Time: March 3, 2026, 1:04 AM - 2:02 AM HST. You can visit the Time and Date website to learn if the eclipse will be visible from where you live, by entering your city to see local visibility details and precise times. For example, observers in New York will see the Moon transition into totality and turn blood red, but maximum eclipse, when the Moon is deepest in Earth's shadow, will occur after moonset and will not be visible. What to expect: Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are perfectly safe to watch with the naked eye. As the eclipse happens, you'll gradually see the change from a bright silver moon to a deep red as Earth's shadow passes over it. It's like watching all the phases of the Moon in fast forward!