A rare “blood moon” total lunar eclipse appeared in the sky on Thursday, March 13, and was visible across the US without special equipment. According to Dr. Angela Speck, a professor of astrophysics at The University of Texas at San Antonio, the event took place from approximately 11:57 pm ET until 6 am ET.
During this time, the entire Moon fell within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, causing it to appear red-orange. This occurs when the Moon blocks nearly all the light from the Sun, creating a reddish hue due to the scattering of shorter wavelengths of light.
The “blood moon” appearance is similar to that of the rock band Pink Floyd’s famous 1973 album cover, where light is bent by passing through the Earth’s atmosphere. Speck explained that this bending effect makes red light more visible on the Moon, resulting in its characteristic reddish color.
Anyone in the US could view the total lunar eclipse without special equipment, and most people will watch the beginning of the event as the moon starts to disappear, before it becomes completely eclipsed and takes on a red hue. For optimal viewing, it’s recommended to find a darker spot away from street lights.
The next total lunar eclipse visible in the US is expected to occur in October 2032, although this will be the last one for a while that the entire country can see. In the meantime, another lunar eclipse will be visible in part of the US in March 2026.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/watch-blood-moon-total-lunar-eclipse/story?id=119293529