A total lunar eclipse occurred on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, tinting the Moon reddish in a phenomenon known as the 'Blood Moon', visible for about an hour from East Asia to Central and North America. In Mexico, the event began around 2:45 AM in Mexico City, while in Tokyo it was partially obscured by clouds. The NASA and the American Astronomical Society explain that this happens when Earth positions itself between the Sun and the Moon.
The total lunar eclipse of March 3, 2026, drew the attention of observers across multiple continents. The event began as the Moon entered Earth's penumbra, with the totality phase lasting 59 minutes, during which the satellite took on a coppery red hue. According to NASA, this coloration comes from sunlight refracted by Earth's atmosphere, akin to sunrises and sunsets around the planet.
In Japan, around 8:00 PM local time, the 'Blood Moon' was barely visible due to cloudy coverage that persisted all day in Tokyo. In contrast, in Mexico City, the eclipse started at 2:45 AM, with the Moon gradually darkening to its total phase in the early morning. The event was also observed in Australia, the Pacific, Central and North America, as well as parts of western South America.
The American Astronomical Society notes that a total lunar eclipse occurs only during a full moon, when Earth's shadow fully covers the lunar disk. Unlike solar eclipses, this one is visible from an entire hemisphere and safe to view with the naked eye, ideally in dark areas using binoculars or telescopes. During the eclipse, the Moon was positioned in the constellation of Leo, making stars more visible than usual on a full moon night.
In Central Asia and most of South America, only a partial eclipse was seen, and it was not visible in Africa or Europe, per NASA. This year's lunar eclipse follows an annular solar eclipse visible from Antarctica on February 17.
