On March 3, the night sky will transform as the moon shifts to a deep copper-red, creating the dramatic phenomenon known as a blood moon.
Skywatchers across much of North America and beyond will have a chance to witness the event.
A blood moon forms during a total lunar eclipse, when Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, blocking sunlight from reaching the lunar surface.
You might expect the moon to go completely dark, but instead it starts to glow in shades of red and orange.
Why the blood moon looks red
Before sunlight reaches the lunar surface, it passes through Earth’s atmosphere, which scatters most of the blue light and allows more red and orange wavelengths to continue forward.
The remaining red light is bent by Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the moon, making it appear copper-red at the peak of the eclipse.
This does not happen every month because the sun, Earth, and moon must line up almost perfectly.
The moon also has to cross Earth’s orbital path at a specific point called a node. Since that exact alignment does not happen often, a total lunar eclipse appears only about once every two-and-a-half years.
The Worm Moon
The March full moon is traditionally known as the Worm Moon, a name rooted in Native American and colonial-era traditions.
The Worm Moon marks the time when earthworms begin to reappear as the ground thaws.
Because this year’s Worm Moon coincides with a total lunar eclipse, some skywatchers are calling it a “Worm Blood Moon.”
When and where to watch
According to NASA, the eclipse will begin at 3:44 a.m. Eastern Time when the moon enters Earth’s outer shadow. At first, the change will look faint, with only slight dimming.
At 4:50 a.m. ET, the partial eclipse will start. During this stage, Earth’s main shadow will cover part of the moon. To the naked eye, it may look like a dark “bite” is being taken out of the moon.
Totality will begin at 6:04 a.m. ET. At this point, the entire moon will sit inside Earth’s shadow and glow a deep red. Totality will end at 7:03 a.m. ET, as the moon slowly moves out of the shadow and the red color fades.
The partial eclipse will end at 8:17 a.m. ET, and the entire event will conclude by 9:23 a.m. ET.
Where the moon will be visible
According to NASA, viewers in eastern Asia and Australia will see totality in the evening, when the moon appears fully red.
The eclipse will unfold overnight across the Pacific. Early risers in North and Central America, as well as far western South America, will have the best view before dawn.
Central Asia and much of South America will experience only a partial eclipse, and the event will not be visible from Africa or Europe.
How to get the best view
According to NASA, viewing a lunar eclipse requires little more than clear skies and an unobstructed view of the moon.
“You can observe a lunar eclipse without any special equipment,” noted NASA.
“All you need is a line of sight to the moon. For a more dramatic experience, seek a dark environment away from bright lights. Binoculars or a telescope can also enhance your view.”
Binoculars can reveal subtle shadows and gradations across the lunar surface, while a telescope deepens the drama.
If you’re hoping to photograph the eclipse, secure your camera on a tripod and allow for slightly longer exposures to capture the moon’s gradual shift into a copper glow.
Biblical prophecy and the red moon
The upcoming blood moon has sparked renewed debate online. Some social media users are linking the eclipse to biblical prophecy, pointing to passages that describe the moon turning to blood before moments of profound upheaval.
One frequently cited verse, Joel 2:31, speaks of the Sun darkening and the moon becoming blood before a “great and terrible” day.
Similar imagery appears in Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12, where a blood-red moon is tied to dramatic cosmic events. For many believers, these passages symbolize sweeping change, judgment, or divine warning.
A sky that looks otherworldly
While total lunar eclipses are well-understood astronomical events, their deep red glow continues to inspire religious and cultural interpretations that stretch back thousands of years.
When the moon turns copper-red on March 3, it will do so because of a precise celestial alignment – the sun, Earth, and moon falling into place with quiet predictability. Yet knowing the science does little to dull the impact.
For a short while, the familiar night sky will look different, almost otherworldly, reminding us that even routine cosmic events can still feel extraordinary.
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