It’s nearly midnight when you look up and catch a faint hint of copper creeping across the face of the moon. You realize this is no ordinary full moon, but a total lunar eclipse more commonly known as a “Blood Moon.”

On the night of March 13 into the early hours of March 14, 2025, the Earth will align with the sun and moon in a way that transforms our familiar lunar companion into a striking red orb.

The phenomenon begins as the moon slides into Earth’s lighter outer shadow, or penumbra, around 11:57 p.m. EST on March 13. By 1:09 a.m., the partial phase kicks in as the moon starts dipping into the darker central shadow. Soon after, Earth fully blocks direct sunlight to the lunar surface, causing the moon to glow in rusty shades.

The first total lunar eclipse since 2022 is coming to the night sky the night of Thursday, March 13th into the early morning of Friday, March 14th! 🌕

As the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow, it will glow a deep, eerie red. Don’t miss this breathtaking moment in the night sky. pic.twitter.com/b6i2WxXDQv

— Museum of Science (@museumofscience) March 6, 2025

According to NASA, “The moon appears orange or red…the more dust or clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere, the redder the moon.”

This stage of totality, when the moon is completely within Earth’s umbra, begins at 2:26 a.m. EST and lasts until 3:31 a.m., with the reddest moment coming close to 2:59 a.m. If you can stay awake, you’ll see the moon’s bright surface gradually fade, replaced by a dim red glow that highlights the incredible spectacle of Earth’s atmosphere bending sunlight around our planet.

“Blood Moon” isn’t an official scientific term, but it captures the striking color that emerges. This shift happens because short-wavelength light (like blue) scatters in the atmosphere, leaving mostly red and orange tones to reach and reflect off the moon. In past centuries, such a sight stirred superstition. Today, it stirs curiosity and, for some, a night of photography and backyard stargazing.

The moon will turn blood red during a total lunar eclipse early Friday morning. You'll have to get up early with the peak of the eclipse near 3am. This is when the earth will be directly between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow over it. Here's what to expect… pic.twitter.com/QzR27qLiqN

— Brandon Orr (@BrandonOrrWPLG) March 12, 2025

Where to Look for the Blood Moon

Most of North and South America, along with parts of Europe and Africa, will have a chance to see at least some portion of the total eclipse. In the United States, everyone from the East Coast to Hawaii will get a view, weather permitting.

City dwellers should try to escape bright lights for a clearer experience, though even a quick glance from your backyard can be enchanting. Telescopes and binoculars can help, but they’re not required. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch with the naked eye.

If you live in North America, you need to go outside tomorrow night.

This Blood Moon is the only lunar eclipse visible from the continent in all of 2025.

You won’t want to miss it, but if you do, watch your favorite astrophotographers! pic.twitter.com/xiJqlxuVdl

— A. Pettit (@PettitFrontier) March 12, 2025

Keep in mind that visibility depends on cloud cover. Clear skies will let the moon’s reddish tint stand out, and the entire progression, from partial shadow to deep red, will last into the early morning. A few hours after totality ends, the moon will emerge from Earth’s penumbra by 6:00 a.m. EST, returning to its usual silvery-white glow.

A Night of Celestial Theater

This Blood Moon isn’t just a dramatic sight; it’s also a reminder of the complex cosmic dance unfolding above us. Scientists studying these eclipses learn about Earth’s atmosphere by observing how our planet’s shadow affects the moon.

As NASA’s Noah Petro once noted, “During a lunar eclipse, the temperature swing is so dramatic that it’s as if the surface of the Moon goes from being in an oven to being in a freezer in just a few hours.”

So, if you’re up late on March 13, take a moment to look skyward. There’s something remarkable about watching an ordinary moon change color, even if it’s just for a short spell in the quiet of the night. Whether you snap photos or simply admire it with your own eyes, the Blood Moon of 2025 is ready to turn your usual sky-gazing into a fleeting, otherworldly experience.