A rare total lunar eclipse, commonly known as a “blood moon,” is set to occur over the Americas on Thursday night. The celestial event will be visible with the naked eye and can be observed in parts of western Europe and Africa, as well as New Zealand.
During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth casts its shadow on the moon, causing the moon’s surface to take on a reddish-orange hue due to sunlight scattering through the atmosphere. This phenomenon is expected to occur simultaneously across time zones, with totality lasting for nearly an hour.
According to NASA Chief Scientist Renee Weber, viewers should keep an eye on weather forecasts before the eclipse, as even cloudy conditions may allow glimpses of the event if clouds are scattered. The timing of totality varies by time zone, but is expected to begin at 2:26 am EST and 11:26 pm PDT.
In addition to totality, the moon will also be partially eclipsed for about an hour before and after the event, providing opportunities for stargazers to observe the eclipse.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-03-americas-witness-rare-blood-moon.html