Observers across the night side of Earth prepared to witness a rare total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, during which the moon turned a striking red hue as it passed through Earth’s deepest shadow.

Known popularly as a “blood moon,” the event occurred when Earth positioned itself directly between the sun and the full moon, blocking direct sunlight and allowing only refracted light through Earth’s atmosphere to illuminate the lunar surface in coppery-red tones.

This total lunar eclipse, the only one of the year and the last such event visible until late December 2028, drew attention from skywatchers from western North America through the Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and parts of eastern Asia.

In North America, the eclipse unfolded during the early morning hours of March 3, with totality — when the moon was fully within Earth’s umbral shadow — lasting nearly an hour in many locations.

Western observers saw the moon high in the sky throughout the event, while those further east often saw totality near the western horizon before the moon set.

Across Australia and New Zealand, the eclipsed moon was visible later in the evening or after moonrise, offering dramatic views of the deep reddish coloration across the lunar disk.

Astronomers explained that the red coloring arises from sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere, filtering out shorter wavelengths and casting only longer, redder light onto the moon’s surface.

Skywatchers were reminded that no special equipment is needed to view a lunar eclipse safely, though binoculars and telescopes can enhance detail.

The extensive visibility of the event, spanning multiple continents and time zones, made it a widely accessible celestial spectacle.

After totality concluded, the moon gradually moved out of Earth’s shadow, fading back to its familiar pale glow as the eclipse came to an end.

This spectacular alignment of celestial bodies provided a rare and memorable astronomical show for millions of people across the globe.