Rare ‘Blood Moon’ Lunar Eclipse: What you need to know
A total lunar eclipse will be visible across much of the Americas and many regions beyond including Europe and the UK on the night of March 13, weather permitting.
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The countdown for the year’s first total lunar eclipse begins.
The celestial event, which will see the moon change to rusty red hues, will occur in the U.S. on the night of March 13-14. According to NASA, another total lunar eclipse won’t be visible in the U.S. until March 2026.
This year’s total lunar eclipse will be visible over North America, South America, and the Western parts of Europe and Africa. Those in the U.S. can see the eclipse starting at 11:57 p.m. ET when the penumbral phase begins, during which the moon travels through Earth’s penumbra, or the faint outer part of its shadow, according to NASA. The agency predicts the moon will complete all of the eclipse phases in just over 6 hours and will end at 6 a.m. ET.
Unlike the total solar eclipse in April 2024, the upcoming total lunar eclipse, the first since November 2022, doesn’t require special equipment to witness safely. Here’s what makes the lunar eclipse special and different from a solar eclipse.
What is an eclipse?
An eclipse occurs when any celestial object like a moon or a planet passes between two other bodies, obscuring the view of objects like the sun, according to NASA.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth. When this happens, Earth blocks the sunlight that normally reaches the moon. Instead of that sunlight hitting the moon’s surface, Earth’s shadow falls on it.
Lunar eclipses are often also referred to as a “blood moon” because when the Earth’s shadow covers the moon, it often produces a red color. The coloration happens because a bit of reddish sunlight still reaches the moon’s surface, even though it’s in Earth’s shadow.
The uncommon celestial phenomenon, which Americans haven’t had the opportunity to witness for nearly three years, can only occur when the moon is full and aligning perfectly with the Earth and sun.
What is a solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking its light from reaching Earth and leading to a minutes-long period of darkness. The resulting “totality,” whereby observers can see the outermost layer of the sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona, presents a spectacular sight for viewers and sometimes confuses animals – causing nocturnal creatures to stir and birds and insects to fall silent.
Partial eclipses, when some part of the sun remains visible, are the most common, making total eclipses a rarer sight.
Difference between lunar eclipse and solar eclipse
The major difference between the two eclipses is in the positioning of the sun, the moon and the Earth and the longevity of the phenomenon, according to NASA.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes in the way of the Sun’s light hitting the moon while a solar eclipse happens when the moon comes in between the sun and casts its shadow on Earth.
A lunar eclipse can last for a few hours, while a solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes. Solar eclipses also rarely occur, while lunar eclipses are comparatively more frequent. While at least two partial lunar eclipses happen every year, total lunar eclipses are rare, says NASA.
Another major difference between the two is that for lunar eclipses, no special glasses are needed to view the spectacle and one can directly stare at the moon. However, for solar eclipses, it’s important to wear proper viewing glasses and take the necessary safety precautions, as the powerful rays of the sun can burn and damage your retinas.
Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.