3 min readGranted, it's got a bit of a sinister name, but the Full Blood Worm Moon is actually one of the most anticipated astronomical events of the year for Moon lovers. That's right—there's a lunar eclipse happening in March (like it did last year), and we've got the full 411 so you can catch it as it begins at 3:44 a.m. EST on Tuesday, the 3rd. That's when the Full Moon will enter the outer edge of the Earth's shadow (also called the penumbra). It will slowly start to dim, but initially this change will be hard to see.
Things will really get interesting at 6:04 a.m. EST, when totality begins, and the Moon is entirely within Earth's umbra, the darker, central part of our planet's shadow. You're definitely going to want to check it out if you can, because this will be the last total lunar eclipse anywhere on Earth until New Year's Eve 2028-2029. So set your alarms to get up super early (unless you want to stay up super late), and get your marvelous Moon quotes ready to celebrate this magical, mysterious celestial show.
What is a Full Blood Worm Moon?
But first, a quick primer on this very special Moon, which takes its name from The Old Farmer's Almanac. The venerable publication offers a name for each Moon of the year, culled from a mix of Indigenous American, Colonial American, and European sources. March's "Worm Moon" references a landscape beginning to awaken, with earthworms, beetle larvae, and other critters emerging from their winter hiding places, providing food for returning birds. The word "Blood," as ominous as it seems, simply refers to the orange-red hue of the Moon during an eclipse.
Lunar eclipses occur on average every year or two, when the Sun, Earth, and the Full Moon align precisely, causing the Earth's shadow to fall upon the Moon. There are distinct phases to every lunar eclipse, and it's not until the total phase, when the last bit of the Moon enters the umbra and is covered by the deepest shadow, that Luna will turn its most dramatic coppery color. That's because while most of the sun's light is blocked by the Earth, a small amount passes through our atmosphere, which filters out blue light but not red.
On March 3, the Moon will enter the umbra at 4:50 a.m. EST, and the partial eclipse will begin. It will look like a slice has been carved out of Earth's closest neighbor. Totality will last until 7:03 a.m. EST, almost an hour, with the greatest eclipse occurring at 6:33 a.m. EST. (The Full Moon itself will reach its peak at 6:38 a.m. EST.) As the Moon exits the umbra, its striking red color will fade, and it will look like a slice has been taken out of the lunar surface's opposite side. The partial eclipse will end at 8:17 a.m. EST, with the penumbral eclipse wrapping up at 9:23 a.m. EST. The entire event will last 5 hours and 38 minutes.
How to see the lunar eclipse
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses can be viewed safely with no special equipment, because you're seeing reflected, not direct sunlight. Head to the darkest spot you can find, away from bright lights, and keep an eye to the sky at the appointed time. However, folks in the eastern part of the United States might want to watch from an elevated vantage point, since the Moon will be almost at the horizon during totality. Otherwise, trees or buildings might block the sublime celestial sight. Of course, binoculars and especially a telescope will only enhance things, and should you want to shoot some snap shots, NASA recommends using a camera on a tripod with exposures of at least several seconds.
Exactly how red Earth's closest neighbor will appear is dependent on how much dust, smoke, and other debris is in our atmosphere at the time. For example, lunar eclipses that happen after volcanic eruptions are known for featuring especially intense red coloration thanks to the ash that is expelled into the air. While you're moon gazing on the morning of March 3, you also might want to take a peek at the Leo the Lion constellation. You should be able to see Leo's brightest star, Regulus, all night long.
Here are the times for totality in U.S. time zones other than EST:
- Central time: 5:04-6:03 a.m. CST
- Mountain time: 4:04-5:03 a.m. MST
- Pacific time: 3:04-4:03 a.m. PST
- Alaska time: 2:04-3:03 a.m. AKST
- Hawaii time: 1:04-2:03 a.m. HST
