Next week’s total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, 2025, could come with a rare celestial bonus: the chance to witness the the Milky Way and the northern lights, or aurora borealis, alongside the “blood moon.”
Thanks to a combination of celestial mechanics and the solar cycle, March can see more, and more intense, displays of the northern lights, while lunar totality sees the sky easily dark enough to do some serous stargazing. The stage is set!
Why March Is Prime Time For Auroras
March is historically a good month for auroras due to the “equinox effect.” As the vernal equinox approaches on March 20, Earth’s axis is perpendicular to the sun. During this time, Earth’s magnetic field weakens slightly, allowing the solar wind to interact more directly with the magnetosphere. Another factor is the Russell-McPherron Effect, whereby the geometry of Earth’s magnetic field and the solar wind’s magnetic field act as opposite bar magnets attracting one another, according to EarthSky, opening up cracks in Earth’s magnetosphere that let in more charged particles from the sun.
The Role Of ‘Solar Maximum’
Auroras are triggered by geomagnetic storms, which occur when heightened solar activity — such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections — send clouds charged particles toward Earth. In October 2024, solar scientists at NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared that “solar maximum” had arrived. This is a peak in the roughly 11-year solar cycle when solar storms are most frequent and intense.
There’s no guarantee, but if a geomagnetic storm of any kind — even a weak-sounding G1 or G2 (the highest being G5) — is forecast by NOAA during the week of the lunar eclipse, northern lights could be visible farther south than is typical. Keep an eye on NOAA’s 30-minute forecast, where the latest updates are posted.
The total lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015 taken from near Tear Drop Arch, in western Monument Valley, ... [+] Utah. (Photo by: Alan Dyer /VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Universal Images Group via Getty Images
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How The Blood Moon And Aurora May Align
March 14 sees a full moon, which is not a great time of the month to go looking for aurora. After all, the moon’s bright light bleaches the sky, making faint green shapes in the night sky harder to see. However, during the total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, the full moon’s light will be dulled and then almost extinguished for the 65 minutes of totality. As it glows red, the moon will be surrounded by the stars of Leo — and even traces of the Milky Way. Totality occurs during the late-night hours, too, the darkest hours of the night.
Observers in northern regions, such as Alaska, Canada, and northern U.S. states, are most likely to see the auroras if the geomagnetic activity is high. However, there is another factor — light pollution. If you want to have the best chance to see stars around the moon and any potential auroras, you must get away from light pollution.
It’s also important to understand that the aurora typically occurs in the northern sky in North America, while the full moon will be totally eclipsed in the southern sky — so prepare to make frequent 180-degree turns!
Where To Watch For All Three Events
If you’re hoping to witness the “blood moon," Milky Way and the northern lights all in one night, head to a location with minimal light pollution and an unobstructed view of the northern horizon. Anywhere dark is fine for the Milky Way — which should pop out the same time as totality, as the Summer Triangle stars rise in the east. For aurora, the best options are farther north, such as Fairbanks, Alaska and Yellowknife, Canada. Dark locations close to the U.S.-Canada border include Glacier National Park, Montana and Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota.
Remember to dress warmly because March nights can be cold, especially in northern regions. It’s also wise to pack a reclining chair, binoculars, and a manual camera on a tripod — with a wide-angle lens if you want to attempt a “blood moon” and the aurora in the same shot.
A wide-angle view of the total eclipse of the Moon of November 8, 2022, with the red Moon at right ... [+] amid the stars of the northern winter sky and Milky Way, plus with bright red Mars at top. (Photo by: Alan Dyer/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The Two Forecasts You Need To Check
Keep checking weather forecasts in the run-up to March 13/14. A clear sky is absolutely essential if you’re to see anything of either the “blood moon" or the aurora, though only a short break in the clouds during totality is required for the former. For the latter, keep an eye on space weather forecasts from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center to track geomagnetic storm predictions. The Kp index, which measures geomagnetic activity on a scale of 0 to 9, should be at least 5 for auroras to be visible in areas farther south. A better resource is the Glendale App, which will tell you if an auroral substorm is imminent where you are.
Prepare For Anything
This total lunar eclipse may already be the astronomical highlight of 2025, but the potential for northern lights makes it even more exciting. However, it is only potential — being in the right place at the right time guarantees you nothing. If you head out to a remote place in an attempt to see and photograph a “blood moon,” the Northern Lights and the Milky Way in one shot, prepare for everything — including disappointment. That said, there is only one way to ensure that you have no chance to capture this rare triple-header, and that’s not to attempt it.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.