On the night of March 13-14, 2025, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across North America and South America. The full moon will pass through Earth’s shadow during this event, turning a striking reddish color for 65 minutes. This phenomenon is commonly known as a “blood moon.”
A total lunar eclipse happens when Earth is positioned directly between the sun and a full moon.
Earth’s darkest shadow, called the umbra, covers the lunar surface. The moon appears red because sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere is the only light reaching it. This filters out shorter wavelengths and leaves behind only reddish hues, similar to during sunrises and sunsets.
The eclipse will occur in five stages between 11:57 p.m. and 6 a.m. EDT (03:57 to 10:00 UTC). It begins when the moon enters Earth’s penumbra, the outer part of its shadow. The moon then moves into the umbra, gradually turning red as Earth’s shadow moves across it.
Totality, the phase you don’t want to miss, is when the entire lunar surface will appear red. This lasts for 65 minutes before the process reverses.
Lunar eclipse schedules and visibility
For those in eastern North America, the partial phase begins at 1:09 a.m. EDT on March 14. Totality lasts from 2:26 a.m. to 3:32 a.m. EDT. On the West Coast, the partial phase starts at 10:09 p.m. PDT on March 13.
Totality occurs from 11:26 p.m. to 12:32 a.m. PDT on March 14. These differences are due to time zones, as lunar eclipses are global events that happen at the exact moment worldwide. You can view the entire lunar eclipse with the naked eye.
However, a backyard telescope or stargazing binoculars may help you better appreciate Earth’s shadow moving across the moon. They can also reveal the eclipse playing out across specific lunar features like large craters. If you miss March’s total lunar eclipse, there is one more in 2025.
However, it will occur overnight on Sept. 7-8 and will be best observed in Asia, mainly leaving out North Americans.
Image Credits: Photo by Jongsun Lee on Unsplash
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
