Total lunar eclipse March 3 2026: Live updates
The next lunar eclipse will occur in the early hours of March 3, 2026, for observers in North America. We'll be updating this live blog as the event unfolds.
T-24 hours until the total lunar eclipse!
Heads up skywatchers!
Set your alarm — the total lunar eclipse of March 3 is almost here, and for many North American skywatchers it unfolds in the early hours before sunrise (weather permitting!)
Some observers may even witness a rare atmospheric illusion called a selenelion, an 'impossible' moment when the rising sun and eclipsed moon appear in the sky at the same time!
Key resources:
What time is the eclipse and where can I watch it online?
The blood moon is almost upon us! It will be the last total lunar eclipse until New Year's Eve 2028, so catch it if you can!
Check out our handy guides below on where to watch the action online and also what time to catch the main event.
Read more: Watch the 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse on March 3 with these free livestreams
Read more: What time is the blood moon total lunar eclipse on March 3?
See the 'impossible' during March 3's total lunar eclipse
Can you really see a sunrise and a blood moon at the same time?
On March 3, some skywatchers may witness a rare atmospheric effect called a selenelion, when the rising sun and an eclipsed moon briefly share the sky.
Read more: See the 'impossible' as sunrise and a total lunar eclipse appear at the same time on March 3
The total lunar eclipse will be the last one for nearly 3 years
If you're planning to wake up early for the total lunar eclipse on March 3, here's something to keep in mind: after this blood moon, we won't see another for nearly 3 years! So it's worth catching this one if you can.
There are no total lunar eclipses in 2027. The next time the moon fully enters Earth's shadow won't be until Dec. 31, 2028 — New Year's Eve — kicking off a rare run of three total lunar eclipses between 2028 and 2029.
Read more: The total lunar eclipse on March 3 will be the last until New Year's Eve 2028
Why does the moon turn red during a total lunar eclipse?
On March 3, a total lunar eclipse will turn the moon red for billions of skywatchers around the world. But what causes the blood moon? Why doesn't the moon turn completely black during a total lunar eclipse?
The answer lies in the way Earth's atmosphere bends and filters sunlight, scattering blue light while allowing red and orange wavelengths to reach the moon. It's as if all the world's sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the moon at once.
Read more: Why does the moon turn red during a total lunar eclipse?
Want to photograph the upcoming lunar eclipse but don't know where to start?
We've rounded up seven easy tips for photographing the total lunar eclipse on March 3 so you're not left in the dark come the big day!
You may not need advanced gear to photograph a lunar eclipse, but preparation is key.
Read more: 7 easy tips for photographing the 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse on March 3
A blood moon is coming, but what will actually happen?
In the early hours of March 3, skywatchers across the Americas, east Asia and Oceania will witness a blood moon total lunar eclipse. Totality, during which the moon will sit in the deepest part of Earth's shadow, the umbra, will last for 58 minutes.
But the show goes on for much longer than that.
Read more: What to expect during each phase of the 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse on March 3
Planning on heading somewhere for the blood moon? We've got you covered
Still unsure of where you'll be for the last total lunar eclipse until New Year's Eve 2028-2029? We've compiled a list of 10 of the best places to head for great views of the blood moon on March 3, from dark sky reserves to remote deserts.
Read more: 10 best places to see the 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse on March 3
Who will be able to see the total lunar eclipse?
The March 2026 total lunar eclipse will bring a dramatic blood moon to skies across North America, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia — if you know where to look.
Though the blood moon total lunar eclipse will be visible to billions of people across the night side of Earth on March 3, the best views will be from the western half of North America, Australia and the Pacific.
Read more: Where to see the total lunar eclipse in the early hours of March 3
One week to the blood moon! We're ready, are you?
In just one week, a spectacular display of orbital mechanics will be visible to billions of people across the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, as Earth's shadow sweeps across the lunar disk, triggering the onset of an awe-inspiring 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse.
Read more: 1 week until a breathtaking blood moon rises over the US during total lunar eclipse 2026
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