One of astronomy’s most beautiful sights, a total eclipse of the moon, occurs overnight on Thursday,
March 13 into early on Friday, March 14, 2025. For those on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the moon will
start to darken at 1:09 am early on Friday morning March 14 (i.e. just after midnight on Thursday, March
13), as the full moon begins to move into Earth’s dark shadow. This partial phase will last well over an
hour.

Partial lunar eclipse:

Picture source: Wikipedia

Then, by 2:26 am EDT on March 14, the entire moon will be Earth’s dark shadow; the moon will turn
very dark, and may well turn an eerie shade of red. This total phase will last over an hour.

Total Lunar Eclipse:

NASA Science Visualization Studio

The moon turns red during a total eclipse due to Earth’s atmosphere. Earth is exactly between the sun
and the moon during this total phase. As the sun’s light passes Earth’s atmosphere on its way to the
moon, our own air blocks the shorter wavelengths of blue light, but lets the longer wavelengths of red
light continue on to the moon, turning it coppery red.

The moon will start to emerge from Earth's shadow at 3:31 am, and the partial phase following that
total phase will end at 4:47 am.

One of the striking things about a lunar eclipse is that a lunar eclipse is visible at the exact same time,
adjusting for the time zones, over the half of the planet. In this case, all of North America and Central
America will see this eclipse from start to end, as well as most of South America. So, for example, in Los
Angeles, California the eclipse will start at 10:09 pm Pacific Daylight Time on Thursday, March 13; move
into the total phase at 11:26 Ppm; and come to an end at 1:47 am on Thursday, March 14.

In the map below, the area in red will see the entire lunar eclipse from start to end. Areas in purple will
see part of the eclipse; for example, Brazil in eastern South America will see most of the eclipse, but the
moon will set before the final partial phase is over.

Source: Time and Date

LSC’s TOP 5 GREAT THINGS ABOUT A LUNAR ECLIPSE

1. Lunar eclipses last for hours. The one on March 13-14 will last over 3.5 hours. So even if it’s
   cloudy, there is a good, long chance to get a view of the event during that time.
2. No safety worries. It is totally safe to view lunar eclipses directly with no need for safety glasses,
   unlike partial solar eclipses.
3. Just look up. You can enjoy the spectacle of a lunar eclipse without needing a telescope or
   binoculars.
4. Light pollution? Who cares! Unlike, say, a meteor shower, the eerie spectacle of a lunar eclipse
   can be enjoyed even amid the bright lights of a city.
5. Half the world is watching. You can share the experience with friends and family all over the
   Americas!

Late-Night Lunar Mania

One more great thing about this eclipse? Liberty Science Center is hosting a Late-Night Lunar Mania
event, from midnight to 4 :00 am on Friday morning March 14. We’ll stay up late on Thursday the 13 th
and then the event starts at midnight. There will be planetarium shows on the eclipse in the nation’s
biggest planetarium, telescopes, a narrated webcast of the eclipse from other places in the Americas,
and a complete performance of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon laser show!
For more information and tickets: https://lsc.org/explore/planetarium/lunar-mania

While this lunar eclipse is visible over the Americas, the next total lunar eclipse will occur over Asia,
Europe and Africa on September 7-8, 2025; giving the entire planet a chance to experience a spectacular
total lunar eclipse this year! https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2025-sep...

For more information:
The Time and Date site is an excellent source for information on this, and all eclipses:
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2025-mar...