The moon will pass through the umbra, or the inner part of Earth’s shadow, on Thursday night, March 13-14, 2025, creating a total lunar eclipse (blood moon eclipse).
Stages of the total lunar eclipse in March 2025 (including time)
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins (March 14, 03:57 UTC)
The penumbral lunar eclipse will begin on March 14, 2025, at 03:57 UTC (11:57 p.m. EDT on March 13), when the moon enters the penumbra, or the outer part of Earth’s shadow.
The moon will appear slightly dimmer than usual. However, the effect will be so subtle that it may be difficult to notice.
Partial lunar eclipse begins (March 14, 05:09 UTC)
The partial lunar eclipse will begin on March 14, 2025, at 05:09 UTC (1:09 a.m. EDT), when the moon enters the umbra, or the inner part of Earth’s shadow.
The moon will appear like a bite is being taken out of one side.
Total lunar eclipse begins (March 14, 06:26 UTC)
The total lunar eclipse will begin on March 14, 2025, at 06:26 UTC (2:26 a.m. EDT), when the moon completely enters the umbra, or the inner part of Earth’s shadow.
The moon will turn a reddish-orange color.
Moment of greatest eclipse (March 14, 06:59 UTC)
The moment of greatest eclipse will happen on March 14, 2025, at 06:59 UTC (2:59 a.m. EDT), when the moon is halfway through the umbra, or the inner part of Earth’s shadow.
Total lunar eclipse ends (March 14, 07:31 UTC)
The total lunar eclipse will end on March 14, 2025, at 07:31 UTC (3:31 a.m. EDT), when the moon exits the umbra, or the inner part of Earth’s shadow.
The red color of the moon will fade gradually. The moon will appear like a bite is being taken out from the other side, which will shrink over time.
Partial lunar eclipse ends (March 14, 08:47 UTC)
The partial lunar eclipse will end on March 14, 2025, at 08:47 UTC (4:47 a.m. EDT), when the moon completely exits the umbra, or the inner part of Earth’s shadow. The moon is now completely inside the penumbra, or the outer part of Earth’s shadow.
Again the moon will appear slightly dimmer than usual.
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends (March 14, 10:00 UTC)
The penumbral lunar eclipse will end on March 14, 2025, at 10:00 UTC (6:00 a.m. EDT), when the moon completely exits the penumbra, or the outer part of Earth’s shadow.
The moon will return to its normal state.
Visibility of the total lunar eclipse in March 2025
The total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, 2025, will be visible from the Pacific, the Americas, Western Europe, and Western Africa. See the visibility map below.
Why is a total lunar eclipse called a blood moon eclipse?
Our Earth cannot block all of the sunlight during a total lunar eclipse. Some of the sunlight reaches the lunar surface through Earth’s atmosphere.
Now, when sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, light with shorter wavelengths like blue is scattered more easily than light with longer wavelengths like red.
As a result, light with longer wavelengths like red only reaches the lunar surface during a total lunar eclipse, making the moon appear red.
Since the moon appears deep red during a total lunar eclipse, it is called a blood moon eclipse.
What is a total lunar eclipse?
A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is precisely between the sun and moon, and the moon passes through Earth’s inner shadow, or the umbra.
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