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Get ready for a special night sky show. On March 2–3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse will occur. This will be the last total lunar eclipse visible from Earth for almost three years; the next one will not happen until New Year's Eve in 2028. EarthSky's Deborah Byrd explains where to watch, how to see it, and why there is such a long wait. You can watch a video about this event on EarthSky's website or on YouTube.
A total lunar eclipse of the Full Blood Moon will be visible over the Pacific Ocean and western North America on March 2–3, 2026. For observers in East Asia, the Blood Moon will be high in the sky on the evening of March 3. East of the International Date Line (in places like Hawaii), the eclipse will begin on the evening of March 2. In North America, people will see an early morning eclipse on March 3, watching as the Blood Moon sets in the west before dawn. Observers in Japan, New Zealand, and most of Australia will see the entire event. From Central Asia, the moon will rise with the eclipse already in progress. People in eastern Europe, Africa, and western Asia will not see any part of this eclipse.
You can see photos from past total lunar eclipses on our website. The next total lunar eclipse will be on the morning of December 31, 2028. Many people are already calling it the New Year's Eve Blood Moon.
During total eclipses, the moon can turn a deep red color. This is why you will hear this event called a Blood Moon eclipse. The exact shade of red depends mostly on conditions in Earth's atmosphere at the time of the eclipse. How dark red will the March 2026 total lunar eclipse be?
The full moon occurs at 11:38 UTC on March 3 (5:38 a.m. CST). This is 35 minutes after the total phase of the eclipse begins. Here is the complete schedule of events in Universal Time (UTC) and Central Standard Time (CST):
The total phase of the eclipse will last about 59 minutes. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up in space, with Earth in the middle. Earth's shadow then falls on the Moon.
It is safe to look at a lunar eclipse with your eyes alone. Binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view, but they are not required. A dark sky away from city lights also improves visibility.
You can visit timeanddate.com to get exact eclipse timings for your specific location.
The moment of greatest eclipse occurs 6.5 days after the Moon reaches perigee. Perigee is the Moon's closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit.
At the middle of the eclipse, the Moon will be located in front of the constellation Leo the Lion.
Eclipses follow patterns. Scientists use the Saros catalog to describe these patterns. The March 2–3 total lunar eclipse is part of Saros series 133. It is the 27th eclipse out of 71 in this series. All eclipses in Saros 133 occur at the Moon's descending node. The Moon moves northward relative to this node with each following eclipse in the series.
The instant of greatest eclipse—when the center of Earth's shadow passes closest to the Moon's center—is at 11:33 UTC on March 3. At that moment, the Moon will be directly overhead for observers in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The total phase will last for 59 minutes.
This total lunar eclipse on March 2–3, 2026, was preceded by another eclipse two weeks earlier. An annular solar eclipse occurred on February 17, 2026. These two eclipses are part of a single eclipse season.
An eclipse season is a period of about 35 days during which at least two (and sometimes three) eclipses always take place. In 2026, there will be another eclipse season in August. It will include a total solar eclipse on August 12 and a partial lunar eclipse on August 28.
The full moon in March 2026 is called the Worm Moon. All full moons have popular nicknames. Other names for the March full moon are the Crow Moon and the Sap Moon. The name Worm Moon refers to earthworms and insect larvae beginning to move in the soil as late winter turns to early spring.
You can visit Sunrise Sunset Calendars to find out the moonrise time in your area. Remember to check the box for moonrise and moonset times.
The full moon on the night of March 3, 2026, will be in the direction of the constellation Leo the Lion. The Moon appears most perfectly round on the day it is full. On the day before and the day after, it will look almost, but not completely, full.
For more detailed information, you can explore these resources:
The next total lunar eclipse after 2026 is on December 31, 2028. It will be the first of three total lunar eclipses in a row. After the total eclipse on December 31, 2028, there will be another on June 26, 2029, and one more on December 20, 2029.
In summary: Overnight on March 2–3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse of the Full Blood Moon will be visible from many parts of the world. This is your guide on how to see it.
Check out EarthSky's monthly night sky guide for information on visible planets and other events.