A total lunar eclipse, often called a Blood Moon, is one of the most fascinating sights in the night sky. Unlike a solar eclipse, where the moon blocks the sun, a lunar eclipse happens when Earth comes between the sun and the moon. As Earth’s shadow slowly covers the moon, the surface changes color. Instead of disappearing completely, the moon glows in shades of red and orange. This reddish look is why people often call it a “blood moon.”
What Happens During a Blood Moon?
The effect happens because sunlight bends around Earth and passes through its atmosphere before reaching the moon. The atmosphere filters out most of the blue light and lets the red light pass through, which paints the moon in fiery shades. This natural filter is the same reason we see red and orange colors during sunrise and sunset, and it is what gives rise to the dramatic Blood Moon during a total lunar eclipse.
Total lunar eclipses are rare but global events. Everyone on the night side of Earth gets to see the Blood Moon, while those on the day side miss out. Depending on where you are, you may see the entire eclipse, only part of it, or nothing at all.
🌑 Don’t miss it: Rare total lunar eclipse to create stunning blood moon on Sept. 7
The September 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse
The next total lunar eclipse will take place on the night of September 7-8, 2025. During this event, the moon will stay in totality, glowing red, for about 82 minutes. While this is a long and impressive eclipse, not everyone will get to see it.
North America will unfortunately miss out this time because the eclipse happens during its daytime hours. The regions with the best view will be Africa, India, China, and Australia. Western Europe will catch only a partial glimpse of the eclipse at moonrise, but the show will be short-lived.
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This means that although the September 2025 eclipse is a stunning event, skywatchers across North America will have to wait a little longer before witnessing another blood moon.
The March 2026 Blood Moon Visible in North America
The next total lunar eclipse that people in North America can enjoy will happen overnight on March 2-3, 2026. This blood moon will last for about 58 minutes, when the moon’s surface turns a deep reddish shade. Unlike the 2025 eclipse, this one will be visible across many parts of North America, East Asia, and Australia. The central viewing point of the eclipse will be over the Pacific Ocean.
In North America, the farther west you are, the better the view will be. On the East Coast, such as in New York, the moon will be setting during the total eclipse, so people there will only see a short totality before the moon dips below the horizon. In the Midwest, totality will also happen close to moonset, giving a limited view.
Only those living west of Kansas will see the total eclipse higher in the sky. On the West Coast of the United States and in parts of western Canada, the view will be much clearer. States like California, Oregon, and Washington, along with Alaska and British Columbia, will be able to witness all stages of the eclipse high above the horizon.
The moon’s reddish glow is most striking when seen high in the sky. Near the horizon, the moon naturally looks orange because of Earth’s atmosphere, so the blood moon effect is less dramatic. That is why western states will experience a more vibrant display.
March is also a time when weather plays an important role in visibility. Regions known for clearer skies, such as the desert areas of southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico, have the best chances for uninterrupted views. Hawaii will also be among the best locations to watch the eclipse in its full glory.
The March 2-3, 2026 lunar eclipse will be the third in a row within one lunar year, a cycle of 354 days. Total lunar eclipses often occur in sets of three, and this one continues that pattern. Interestingly, it will follow an annular solar eclipse on February 17, 2026. During that solar eclipse, 96% of the sun’s disk will be covered by the moon for a brief period, though it will be visible only from Antarctica.
