The first total lunar eclipse in almost three years will be visible from New Jersey and the rest of the United States in March, with the moon turning a “blood” red color in the winter sky.
The lunar eclipse will occur early in the morning on Friday, March 14 as the March 2025 “worm moon” is turning full.
For a little more than an hour, the lunar satellite will look like a “blood moon,” turning reddish-orange as it moves across the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow.
Experts say the moon appears to glow in that rusty color because of light reflecting from the sun.
“Although the point of greatest eclipse will be in the Pacific Ocean, North America and South America will get the best views,” Space.com says. “Some areas of Europe will get a slight view of the moonset, and East Asia will glimpse the spectacle at moonrise.”
Unlike a solar eclipse, which could cause serious damage to your eyes, you don’t need any special safety glasses to look at a lunar eclipse.
Although the lunar eclipse can be seen with the naked eye, experts say a telescope or binoculars could enhance the view.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon's color will turn from white or yellow to rusty orange or reddish, giving it the nickname "blood moon." The next total lunar eclipse will be coming on March 14, 2025. Pictured here is a lunar eclipse seen from Los Angeles on Jan. 20, 2019.AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu
What time can we see the eclipse?
For people in New Jersey, New York and the rest of the eastern U.S., the bad news about the March eclipse is the timing.
A partial lunar eclipse will start at 11:57 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, March 13. But the most dramatic portion — when the moon turns totally dark — will occur between 2:26 a.m. and 3:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14, according to Space.com and TimeAndDate.com.
The eclipse will end at 6 a.m.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon drifts across the Earth's dark shadow during a period when the sun, the earth and the moon are closely aligned. Because of that alignment, our planet's shadow will temporarily block the light that the sun reflects off the moon's surface, so the moon's brightness will fade.AccuWeather
What causes a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon drifts across the Earth’s shadow during a period when the sun, the Earth and the moon are closely aligned in the sky.
Because of that alignment, the Earth’s shadow will temporarily block the light that the sun reflects off the moon’s surface, so the moon’s brightness will fade.
During a total lunar eclipse, known as the period of totality, the moon will appear to be a rusty reddish-orange color.
The last time a total lunar eclipse was visible from the United States was Nov. 8, 2022. Another one was visible on May 16, 2022.
When is the next total lunar eclipse?
After the March 14 event, the next total lunar eclipse will occur on Sept. 7, 2025, but it will be visible only in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe, according to NASA.
The next total lunar eclipse that will be visible in the United States will take place on March 3, 2026.
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Stories by Len Melisurgo
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality.