On March 14th 2024, US observers will get to see a total lunar eclipse, when the full Moon will turn rusty red.
Lunar eclipses happen when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, with Earth’s shadow cast on to the lunar surface.
Find out more in our complete guide to the 14 March lunar eclipse.
Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is filtered, so when it hits the Moon, the Moon appears red.
Many call a total lunar eclipse a ‘blood Moon’. ‘Totality’ – the point of maximum eclipse – will happen when the Moon is high in the sky.
The full Moon will be located between Leo and Virgo, and it’ll very obvious to the naked eye.
Key timings for the March 14, 2025 total lunar eclipse, visible from North America. Credit: Pete Lawrence
Key timings for the March 14, 2025 total lunar eclipse, visible from North America. Credit: Pete Lawrence
Key timings for the March 14 lunar eclipse
The lunar eclipse starts with a subtle, ‘penumbral’ part, which sees Earth’s shadow begin to cross the surface of the Moon.
This begins at the following times, depending on your time zone:
20:57 PDT (March 13th)
21:57 MDT (March 13th)
22:57 CDT (March 13th)
23:57 EDT (March 13th)
The penumbral shadow is hardly noticeable at first, but it becomes more obvious in the southeast portion of the Moon.
Just after this, the darker, coloured ‘umbral’ part of the shadow appears.
This will happen at the following times, depending on your time zone:
22:10 PDT (March 13th)
23:10 MDT (March 13th)
00:10 CDT (March 14th)
01:10 EDT (March 14th)
Located high in the sky for the eastern half of the US, and lower but still well-positioned from the western half, the eclipse continues until totality is reached at the following times, depending on time zone:
23:26 PDT (March 13th)
00:26 MDT (March 14th)
01:26 CDT (March 14th)
02:26 EDT (March 14th)
The August 8, 2022 lunar eclipse, photographed by Michael Shapiro, Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA.
The August 8, 2022 lunar eclipse, photographed by Michael Shapiro, Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA.
Observing the lunar eclipse
During a solar eclipse, when the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon, eclipse glasses must be worn.
But during a lunar eclipse, which is what's taking place this week, no eclipse glasses are necessary.
You can safely enjoy the March 14, 2025 total lunar eclipse with the naked eye.
What you will see, is that during totality, the Moon will appear dimmer and redder.
If you have a pair of binoculars or a telescope, use them to get a closer look at the lunar surface and observe the subtleties of the Moon changing colour.
You could even photograph the lunar eclipse.
If you observe or photograph the March 14 lunar eclipse, let us know by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com