A rare total lunar eclipse, known as the “blood moon,” will be visible in the United States overnight into Friday morning. This celestial event, where the moon enters Earth’s shadow, is the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022. The moon will turn shades of rusty red during the hourlong totality, creating a vibrant spectacle in the night sky. If you miss this event, the next total lunar eclipse visible in the U.S. won’t occur until March 3, 2026.
People in North America, South America, western Europe, and Africa will have the opportunity to witness the total lunar eclipse. The process will start just before midnight, with the visual effects becoming more apparent after 1 a.m. ET on Friday. The totality phase, when Earth’s shadow fully covers the moon, is expected to last around 65 minutes. The entire eclipse process, from entering the Earth’s penumbra to the umbra, will take about three hours and 38 minutes.
While some U.S. states may experience cloud cover during the eclipse, there will be more opportunities to view lunar eclipses in the coming years. Between 2025 and 2030, there will be 14 lunar eclipses, with nine visible in the U.S. Don’t miss out on this rare astronomical event and mark your calendar for future eclipses.
