The first major The astronomical event perceptible in 2026 is a total lunar eclipse, or “blood moon”. This phenomenon is highly appreciated by stargazers because the entire disk of the Moon turns a reddish color for a few moments.
A total lunar eclipse will occur on March 3. It will be highly perceptible in North and Central America, but only partially perceptible in Central and South Asia. It will not be seen in Europe or Africa.
Although the eclipse will begin in the early morning, the entire eclipse will occur almost at dawn on March 3. A few hours before sunrise, the full moon will take on its characteristic reddish color for just 12 minutes.
Times of total lunar eclipse or “Blood Moon”
- Los Angeles: 3:04
- Denver: 4:04
- Chicago: 5:04
- St. Louis: 5:04
- Recent York: 6:04
- Washington, DC: 6:04
A total lunar eclipse, unlike a solar eclipse, is protected. You don’t need any special equipment; just head to a higher vantage point and dress warmly. Please remember that at the moment of totality, moon it will almost touch the horizon and will soon disappear. Therefore, it is necessary to view it from a high place so that no buildings or trees block the view.
Why does the Moon turn red?
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon does not completely lose its brightness, but takes on a boring red hue. This happens because the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon and casts its shadow on the lunar surface.
Unlike the Moon, the Earth is surrounded by an atmosphere that filters sunlight. Thanks to it, we see a blue sky, an orange sunset or distant objects in murky tones. Delicate coming from the Sun and passing through the Earth’s atmosphere reaches the Moon, although in a smaller proportion. These already filtered rays hit the satellite, painting it red. “It’s as if all the sunrises and sunsets in the world were projected onto the moon.” NASA explains.
Total lunar eclipses are slightly less common than total solar eclipses. According to NASA astronomical catalogues, a blood moon appears on average every 2.5 years, and a total solar eclipse occurs about every 18 months.
Total lunar eclipses appear to be more common because they can be observed from anywhere it is nighttime. In contrast, to see a total solar eclipse, you need to be exactly within a narrow band of the totality. For example, an observer can see a total lunar eclipse every two to three years, but it may take about 375 years to see a total solar eclipse from his city.
This story originally appeared on WIRED in Spanish and was translated from Spanish.