Blood Moon March 2025: When and How to See the Total Lunar Eclipse

Something about the way the Moon turns a deep, coppery red draws people outside at odd hours. The March 2025 total lunar eclipse — the first of two this year — gave skywatchers across the Americas exactly that sight. NASA clocked totality at about 65 minutes, making it a leisurely show for anyone willing to stay up late or wake early. Here’s what you need to know about the timing, the science, and the lore behind this blood moon.

Total lunar eclipses in 2025: 2 · First blood moon date: March 13–14, 2025 · Second blood moon date: September 7, 2025 · March 2025 totality duration: ~65 minutes · Next blood moon after 2025: March 3, 2026

Six key facts about the March 2025 blood moon, one pattern: the first of two eclipses in a single year, with distinct visibility for different hemispheres.

The table below captures the essential numbers for planning your viewing.

When can you see the blood moon in 2025?

What time is the March 2025 blood moon visible?

• NASA lists totality beginning at 11:26 pm PDT (March 13), 2:26 am EDT (March 14), and 06:26 UTC (NASA Science).
• Totality lasted from about 2:26 am to 3:31 am ET — roughly 65 minutes (SYFY Wire).
• The entire event, from penumbral start to end, covered about six hours (SYFY Wire).

What time is the September 2025 blood moon visible?

• The second total lunar eclipse of 2025 falls on September 7 (Astronomy Magazine).
• Exact timings vary by time zone, but the eclipse will favor observers in Asia, Australia, and parts of Europe and Africa.

Where can I see the March 2025 blood moon?

• NASA states the eclipse was visible from Earth’s Western Hemisphere (NASA Science).
• Space.com reports that viewers in the western half of South America and nearly all of North America could see the eclipse (SYFY Wire).
• Astronomy Magazine says observers across North and South America, Asia, Australia, the Arctic, and Antarctica could catch at least some portion if skies were clear (Astronomy Magazine).
• Farmers’ Almanac describes it as an after-midnight event for the eastern half of North America, while viewers farther west experienced it before midnight local time (Farmers’ Almanac).

What does Blood Moon mean?

What causes the red color of a blood moon?

• NASA explains that the Moon appears coppery red during totality because Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths (blue light) and bends the remaining red light onto the Moon (NASA Science).
• This is the same physics that makes sunrises and sunsets red.

How is a total lunar eclipse different from a partial eclipse?

• Totality occurs when the Moon is fully inside Earth’s umbral shadow; during a partial eclipse only a portion enters the umbra (NASA Science).

How many blood moons do we have in 2025?

Is the March 2025 full moon a blood moon?

• Yes — because it coincides with a total lunar eclipse, the March full moon is classified as a blood moon (NASA Science).

Is the September 2025 full moon a blood moon?

• The September 7 total lunar eclipse also makes that full moon a blood moon (Astronomy Magazine).

Are blood moons rare?

• Total lunar eclipses occur roughly every 2.5 years at a given location on average (SYFY Wire).
• Having two in one calendar year (2025) is less common but not unprecedented.

What’s so special about March’s full moon?

Why is the March full moon called the Worm Moon?

• Farmers’ Almanac notes the name comes from earthworms emerging as the soil thaws in early spring (Farmers’ Almanac).

What other names does the March full moon have?

• Also known as Crow Moon, Sap Moon, and Lenten Moon (Farmers’ Almanac).
• In 2025, the March full moon is additionally a blood moon due to the total lunar eclipse.

Can animals sense a Blood Moon?

Do pets react to lunar eclipses?

• Anecdotal reports suggest some pets may become restless or confused during lunar eclipses, but no scientific consensus exists on animal perception of eclipses (Farmers’ Almanac).

What are common superstitions about blood moons?

• Common superstitions advise against making important decisions during a blood moon, and some cultures view it as an omen (SYFY Wire).
• Astronomically, there is no evidence that a lunar eclipse affects human behavior.

What should you do during a lunar eclipse?

• NASA recommends no special precautions — lunar eclipse viewing is safe for the eyes (NASA Science).
• For best results, find a dark environment away from bright lights. Binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view (NASA Science).

Timeline of the March 2025 total lunar eclipse

• March 13, 2025 (evening UTC): Partial lunar eclipse begins.
• March 13–14, 2025 (night): Totality – blood moon visible.
• March 14, 2025 (morning UTC): Partial eclipse ends.
• September 7, 2025: Second total lunar eclipse of 2025.

Clarity check: What’s confirmed vs. still unclear

Expert perspectives

“During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon turns a deep, coppery red because Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths and bends the red light onto the Moon.”

— NASA Science (NASA Science)

“Viewers in the western half of South America and nearly all of North America could see the eclipse.”

— SYFY Wire (SYFY Wire)

The March 2025 blood moon was a predictable, well-documented event. For North American skywatchers, the chance to see a second one in September depends on being in the right hemisphere — or traveling. The next time the Americas get a comparable total lunar eclipse will be March 3, 2026. For anyone who missed this one, the pattern is clear: plan for the next, or catch the September show elsewhere.

Related reading: Layers of the Atmosphere: Complete Guide with Altitudes & Facts · How Many Days Are in a Year? Leap Year, Months & Origins

For skywatchers in Ireland, the exact timings and visibility details are outlined in an Irish viewing guide for the March 2025 blood moon.

Frequently asked questions