(Nexstar) – Snacks waiting for Skygarzer in March – The moon takes on a deep reddish tint as it slips into the shadows of the Earth during a lunar eclipse.
The celestial phenomenon begins late March 13th and continues until early March 14th, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Brenda Culbertson told Nexstar's KSNT.
The moon does not create its own light, thanks to sunlight reflecting it. According to NASA, different stages of the moon are putting Earth's orbit Earth's orbit into orbit, changing the perspective of the semi-light moon.
The Earth's shadow does not cause the moon's phase, but it becomes a total when the moon moves to the darkest part of the Earth's shadow called the Umbra.
During the total lunar eclipse, the Earth is completely positioned between the sun and the moon, blocking most of the sunlight. According to NASA, long wavelengths like red and orange are excellent at passing through the Earth's atmosphere and reaching the moon.
Just like at sunset, the more dust and clouds there are in the atmosphere at the time of the eclipse, the redder the eclipse becomes.
How to see
Unlike Last year's total solar eclipseno special viewing equipment is required.
“Lunch eclipses are good because people can stay home and sometimes go outside and watch the changes and stay comfortable.” KSNT. “The shadow of the Earth is much larger than the shadow of the moon that hits the Earth with thin lines.”
Those who want to maximize their viewing experience should stay as far away from the bright light as possible. There are no lunar eclipse glasses, but using telescopes and binoculars guarantees an even better view.
As for visibility, anyone in the Western Hemisphere has the opportunity to see the solar eclipse, except for the cloud cover.
When to see
For planning, this is when NASA confirms that major milestones will occur starting March 13th and continue into the early hours of the 14th (always EDT).
- 11:57pm – The moon enters the outer part of the Earth's shadow known as the Penumbra. The effect is subtle, but you may notice a slight dim.
- 1:09 AM – Partial solar eclipse begins. The moon begins to move to Umbra, and the lump of the moon bites becomes significantly darker.
- 2:26am – The whole thing starts entirely with the moon in the Earth's umbrella. The moon should turn the copper red and photographers should use a tripod to adjust the settings so that more light can enter the lens (longer exposure).
- 3:31am – The whole thing is finished with the moon beginning to be discharged from the moon. This time on the other side, as the shadow escapes from the shadow, it appears to have been bitten by the moon.
- 4:47am – The whole month is still in Peninbra and the brightness has not returned completely.
- 6am – The solar eclipse is over.
If you miss the eclipse on March 13th and 14th, there's another one on March 3rd, 2026, but the National Weather Service points out that it will happen during Moonset/Sunrise in the Eastern US.
