Skywatchers are all set to witness the first major celestial event of 2026 — a total lunar eclipse — on March 3. During this time, the full Moon will pass through the Earth's shadow, making the lunar surface appear dark red or orange. This rare astronomical occurrence is also known as the "blood moon".
This happens when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, blocking most of the sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The Sun's light filtering through the Earth's atmosphere then casts a reddish glow on its surface, making the Moon appear red during totality.
"A total lunar eclipse is coming. In the early morning hours of March 3, 2026 (UTC), the full Moon will pass through Earth's shadow, reddening the lunar surface," NASA said in a post on X.
Total Lunar Eclipse: Time
It will start at 3:44 a.m. EST with the Penumbral eclipse. During this time, the Moon enters the Earth's penumbra. Totality, or the time when the Moon will be fully immersed in the Earth's shadow, is from 6:04 a.m. EST to 7:02 a.m. EST. The Penumbral eclipse is expected to get over at 9:23 a.m. EST, marking the end of the eclipse.
In India, people must note that the lunar eclipse will be visible partially.
According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, most places in the country will observe the ending of the lunar eclipse at the time of moonrise, except for some North East places and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the end of the totality phase of the eclipse will also be visible.
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In general, the eclipse starts at 3:20 p.m. IST and ends at 6:48 p.m. IST. The totality will be from 4:34 p.m. IST to 5:33 p.m. IST. The magnitude of the eclipse is 1.155.
Total Lunar Eclipse: Do's and Don'ts
Unlike the solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is considered completely safe to watch with the naked eye. It does not require any special protective equipment.
It is believed that puja or other auspicious activities should not be performed during this time. During this time, several households believe in chanting holy mantras and meditating.
While there is no scientific explanation for it, people, as per belief, avoid eating, drinking or taking a bath during the Sutak period.
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There is no requirement for any special equipment to observe a lunar eclipse. For a better observing experience, you can stay in a dark environment.
You can use binoculars or a telescope to enhance your viewing experience.
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