Skywatchers are gearing up for a rare celestial event that’s set to adorn the night skies across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A total lunar eclipse will cast a shadow on the Moon, turning it into a spooky red color for one night. Here’s how you can watch it unfold.
The total lunar eclipse will take place on the night of Thursday, March 13, and into the early morning of Friday, March 14, depending on the time zone. The eclipse is set to begin at 11:57 p.m. ET on Thursday and last for about 6 hours as the Moon slowly exits from beneath Earth’s shadow. Unlike the solar eclipse, you won’t need any special equipment to view the Moon during the eclipse. All you have to do is look up.
What is a total lunar eclipse?
Lunar eclipses take place when Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the surface of our natural satellite. Lunar eclipses happen around twice a year, but total lunar eclipses are rarer.
During a total lunar eclipse, as Earth wedges itself between the Sun and the Moon, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. When the Moon is draped beneath the umbra, it turns a reddish color, hence the term blood Moon.
Here’s how it works: As Earth blocks most of the light from the Sun, the light that does end up reaching the Moon’s surface passes through Earth’s atmosphere. As it does, shorter wavelengths of light, like blue, scatter more easily, while longer wavelengths, like red, end up reaching the surface of the Moon. The more dust or clouds in Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the Moon will appear, according to NASA.
Each side of Earth gets to view a total lunar eclipse about once every two to three years. The last total lunar eclipse seen by the U.S. was in November 2022.
How to see the total lunar eclipse
The upcoming total lunar eclipse will be visible from Earth’s western hemisphere. The Moon will be right there—weather permitting—so there’s no need for special equipment to view the eclipse. For better viewing conditions, you can go to a dimly lit area to really take it in.
Beginning at 11:57 p.m. on Thursday, the Moon will begin to dim as it enters the outer part of Earth’s shadow, known as the penumbra, according to NASA. A little over an hour later, a partial eclipse will begin to take shape as the Moon moves deeper into the umbra.
Totality will begin at 2:26 a.m. ET, and last until 3:31 a.m. ET. That’s when the Moon is totally covered by Earth’s shadow, and will appear coppery red. After totality, the Moon will slowly begin to move out of the shadow and return to its regular self at around 6 a.m. ET.
As a bonus, surrounding constellations may be easier to spot while the Moon’s light is dimmed by the eclipse.
