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last mo.

Rare Total Lunar Eclipse Promises Stunning 'Blood Moon' This Week

The celestial event, visible across the Americas and parts of Europe and Africa, will last over six hours with totality reaching its peak early Friday morning.

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A total lunar eclipse is seen over Santa Monica Beach in Santa Monica, Calif., Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The first total lunar eclipse in more than two years is coinciding with a supermoon for quite a cosmic show. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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A total lunar eclipse was seen from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in the early hours on January 2018 in Alameda.

Overview

  • The total lunar eclipse will occur overnight from Thursday, March 13, to early Friday, March 14, and will be visible across all U.S. states and the Western Hemisphere.
  • Totality, when the moon turns a reddish hue due to Earth's shadow, will last approximately 65 minutes, with peak viewing times varying by U.S. time zones.
  • The reddish color, commonly referred to as a 'Blood Moon,' is caused by sunlight refracting through Earth's atmosphere, scattering blue light and allowing red wavelengths to reach the moon.
  • No special equipment is needed to view the eclipse safely, and it will begin with a penumbral phase at 11:57 p.m. EDT, progressing to totality at 2:26 a.m. EDT.
  • This will be the last total lunar eclipse visible across the U.S. until 2029, making it a rare opportunity for stargazers.