A total lunar eclipse is set to be visible across the U.S. on the night of Thursday into early Friday morning, giving the moon a deep reddish hue as it passes through the Earth’s shadow. The eclipse is scheduled to commence around midnight ET, with totality expected to last slightly over an hour, from 2:26 a.m. to 3:32 a.m. ET, as reported by Earth Sky. The entire process is anticipated to conclude around 6:00 a.m. ET. This eclipse will be observable in most of North and South America, as well as the western portions of Africa and Europe, the eastern regions of Australia and Russia, and northern Japan. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon align in space, positioning Earth in the middle and causing it to cast a shadow on the moon. During this phenomenon, the moon takes on a reddish tint, earning it the nickname “blood moon.” This color transformation occurs because sunlight, traveling through Earth’s atmosphere, scatters blue light more easily due to its shorter wavelengths, while red light’s longer wavelengths pass through more readily. This same phenomenon is responsible for the orange hue of sunsets and the blue color of the sky. Unlike solar eclipses, all stages of a lunar eclipse can be safely viewed with the naked eye, although the use of binoculars or telescopes can enhance the experience. Unfortunately, cloudy conditions are predicted for much of the U.S. tonight, potentially obstructing the view of the celestial event. For those who miss this eclipse, the next total lunar eclipse is slated for September 7, with another following on March 3, 2026. Total lunar eclipses are rarer than partial ones, which occur up to three times a year. The two lunar eclipses in 2024 were both partial, with the last total eclipse taking place in 2022.
