Trending Now - Total Lunar Eclipse Coincides With Sunrise on March 3

WHO:

Meg Thacher, Associate Editor at Sky & Telescope

NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

WHAT:

A total lunar eclipse will occur on March 3, 2026, lasting 58 minutes.

The eclipse will be visible as a "blood moon," turning the lunar disk a copper-reddish color.

The total lunar eclipse is the last one visible from anywhere on Earth until late 2028.

The full moon on March 2, 2026, is referred to as the "worm moon," named for the thawing ground and return of earthworms in early spring.

The total lunar eclipse will have five phases: penumbral eclipse, partial eclipse, totality, partial eclipse, and penumbral eclipse.

WHERE:

The eclipse will be visible in North America, the Pacific Region, Australia, New Zealand, and East Asia.

Specific U.S. cities mentioned include:

New York City

Boston

Washington, DC

Chicago

New Orleans

Kansas City

Austin

Winnipeg

Locations in Eastern Time Zone will see the moon set during totality.

Locations in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones will have different visibility of the eclipse.

WHEN:

Total lunar eclipse: March 3, 2026, from 3:04 a.m. PST to 4:02 a.m. PST.

Totality times across U.S. time zones:

Eastern Time: 6:04-7:02 a.m. EST

Central Time: 5:04-6:02 a.m. CST

Mountain Time: 4:04-5:02 a.m. MST

Pacific Time: 3:04-4:02 a.m. PST

Alaska Time: 2:04-3:02 a.m. AKST

Hawaii Standard Time: 1:04-2:02 a.m. HST

The full worm moon will rise on March 2, 2026, with specific moonrise times for cities:

New York City: moonrise at 6:13 p.m. EST

Los Angeles: moonrise at 6:34 p.m. PST

WHY:

The "blood moon" effect occurs due to Earth's shadow covering the moon, with sunlight refracting through Earth's atmosphere.

HOW:

The phenomenon of selenelion allows observers to see both the rising sun and the eclipsed moon at the same time due to atmospheric refraction.

Observers can view the eclipse with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope without any filters.

On March 3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse will take place, lasting 58 minutes and transforming the moon into a striking copper-reddish "blood moon." This event, which will be visible across North America, the Pacific Region, Australia, New Zealand, and East Asia, marks the last total lunar eclipse observable from anywhere on Earth until late 2028. The eclipse will feature five distinct phases and can be enjoyed without filters, allowing viewers to witness this celestial phenomenon with the naked eye or through binoculars and telescopes.