INDIANA – A total lunar eclipse, often called a “Blood Moon” due to the moon’s reddish appearance, will be visible across North America on the night of March 13-14, 2025. This celestial event, the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022, will be a prime viewing opportunity for those in North and South America.
Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes directly between the sun and a full moon, casting a shadow on the moon. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon passes through the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra.
When the moon is fully immersed in Earth’s umbra and appears reddish-orange, the eclipse’s totality will last for 65 minutes. This “Blood Moon” effect is caused by sunlight refracting from Earth’s atmosphere onto the moon’s surface.
This particular eclipse coincides with the “Worm Moon” phase and occurs just three days before the moon reaches apogee, its farthest point from Earth. This means the moon may appear slightly smaller than average.
The total lunar eclipse will occur between 03:57 and 10:00 UTC on Friday, March 14, 2025, with totality occurring between 06:26 and 07:31 UTC. For North America, this translates to the following local times for totality:
- 2:26 to 3:31 a.m. EDT on Friday, March 14, 2025
- 1:26 to 2:31 a.m. CDT on Friday, March 14, 2025
- 12:26 to 1:31 a.m. MDT on Friday, March 14, 2025
- 11:26 p.m. PDT on Thursday, March 13, 2025, to 12:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025
- 10:26 p.m. to 11:31 p.m. AKDT on Thursday, March 13, 2025
- 8:26 p.m. to 9:31 p.m. HST on Thursday, March 13, 2025
While these times reflect totality, observers are encouraged to begin watching about 75 minutes earlier to witness the eclipse’s partial phases as Earth’s shadow begins to creep across the moon. Clear skies will be essential for optimal viewing.
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