What’s happening in March
Two eclipses land just 16 days apart to kick off the year’s first eclipse season. First up: a total lunar eclipse overnight on March 13–14, 2025, visible across North and South America. Then, a solar eclipse on March 29. That one-two punch marks the start of a four-eclipse year that has skywatchers—and plenty of casual onlookers—circling dates on the calendar.
The lunar show is the headliner. Earth’s shadow will fully cover the Moon for 1 hour and 7 minutes, a longer-than-usual span that gives you time to step outside, let your eyes adjust, and actually enjoy it. The eclipse peaks at 2:58 AM EDT on March 14 (06:58 UTC). Totality runs from 2:25–3:32 AM EDT (06:25–07:32 UTC). The broader event begins when the Moon enters Earth’s penumbra at 11:57 PM EDT on March 13 (03:57 UTC on March 14), with the most dramatic stages unfolding after 2 AM local time in the Eastern time zone.
If you’re in the eastern half of North America, you’ll catch it after midnight on March 14. Farther west, the deepest phases happen before midnight on March 13. Across South America, the timing shifts later into the night and early morning hours. The key is clear skies and an unobstructed view—no telescope required.
This is also a particularly photogenic eclipse. The Moon will sit near the border of the Leo and Virgo constellations, between the bright stars Regulus (in Leo) and Spica (in Virgo). That backdrop helps with framing if you’re shooting with a standard camera lens or binoculars. For a wide-field shot, include a foreground—trees, a skyline, a ridge—to give the scene scale.
Why does the Moon turn red? During a total lunar eclipse, Earth blocks direct sunlight but still bends and filters some light through its atmosphere. Shorter blue wavelengths scatter, while longer red wavelengths pass through and reach the Moon, painting it copper to brick red. The exact shade depends on global conditions—dust, smoke, even volcanic aerosols can deepen the color.
You’ll also hear this one called the Worm Moon. That’s the traditional name for the full Moon in March in several North American calendars, marking the time when the ground softens and earthworms reappear. The nickname has no bearing on the eclipse, but it does make for a catchy label.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye. In fact, you might prefer it. Give yourself 10–15 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark, and you’ll notice stars popping into view as the Moon dims. Binoculars can add detail at the Moon’s edge, where Earth’s inner shadow, the umbra, crawls across craters and maria.
Two weeks later comes the year’s first solar eclipse on March 29. Visibility and exact appearance will depend on your location, but one rule never changes: never look at the Sun without proper eye protection. If you plan to observe, use certified eclipse glasses, a handheld solar viewer, or indirect methods like a pinhole projector. Sunglasses are not safe.
In astronomy, eclipses bunch up in what’s called an eclipse season—roughly a month-long window when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align near the Moon’s orbital nodes. That’s why we often get a lunar and a solar event within a couple of weeks of each other, as we will in March. The year 2025 has four in total—two lunar, two solar—split across two seasons.
How to watch and what to expect
For the March 13–14 total lunar eclipse, the most dramatic milestones for Eastern Daylight Time are:
- Moon enters penumbra: 11:57 PM EDT (Mar 13)
- Totality begins: 2:25 AM EDT (Mar 14)
- Maximum eclipse: 2:58 AM EDT (Mar 14)
- Totality ends: 3:32 AM EDT (Mar 14)
Convert those to your local time zone if you’re outside Eastern North America. In Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the peak is at 06:58 UTC on March 14. If the weather cooperates, much of the Americas gets a clean view.
Don’t be surprised if the eclipse looks different from one event to the next. Total lunar eclipses vary in brightness and color. When Earth’s atmosphere is exceptionally clear, the Moon can glow a bright orange. After major wildfires or volcanic eruptions, it can dim to a deep, rusty red. This variability is part of the appeal—no two “blood moons” look exactly the same.
The length of totality also changes. This March, the Moon’s path takes it through a deeper slice of Earth’s shadow, stretching the time spent fully covered. Lunar totality can range from less than an hour to more than an hour and a half, depending on the geometry of the alignment and the Moon’s distance from Earth in its elliptical orbit.
For the March 29 solar eclipse, treat planning as a two-part job: find out whether your location gets a view, and gather proper gear. A few minutes with a local astronomy club, a planetarium app, or a trusted almanac can tell you what you’ll see from your area. Then focus on safety. Only look directly at the Sun through certified filters that meet recognized standards. If you’re using a camera or binoculars, they need their own solar filters—never look through magnified optics with just eclipse glasses.
Kids are often the most enthusiastic viewers. Set up a simple pinhole projector with two index cards or make a colander “projector” to cast dozens of little crescent Suns on the ground. It turns a safety step into a hands-on activity.
For photographers, here’s a simple starting point for the lunar eclipse: mount your camera on a tripod, switch to manual mode, and try ISO 800–1600 at around f/4 to f/5.6. During totality, shutter speeds commonly extend from 1/2 second to a few seconds depending on your sky brightness; use a cable release or a timer to avoid shake. For wide shots with foreground, expose for the scene and let the Moon sit as a glowing accent.
Astrology will ride shotgun on this season, as it always does. Many people see eclipses as turning points. If you’re in that camp, you’ll hear plenty about a solar eclipse occurring with the Sun in Aries—a sign tied to initiative and fresh starts. That’s a cultural layer, not a scientific one. Astronomically, eclipses follow precise orbits and predictably repeat in cycles.
Speaking of cycles, eclipse seasons arrive roughly every six months, and each season can deliver two or three events depending on timing. The March pair opens the year; two more eclipses arrive later in 2025, closing the loop. If you miss one—clouds happen—you’ll get another shot within the same calendar year.
Here’s a practical checklist to make the most of March:
- Check the clock: Note the key times for the lunar eclipse in your time zone. Set an alarm 15–20 minutes early to let your eyes adapt outside.
- Pick your spot: Choose a location with a clear horizon and minimal streetlights. A backyard, park, or rooftop usually works.
- Mind the weather: Thin clouds can add drama; thick ones end the show. Have a backup plan or a second viewing location if possible.
- Pack simply: Warm layers, a chair, binoculars if you have them, and a thermos. For photos, bring a tripod and spare battery.
- Solar safety: For March 29, use certified eclipse glasses or indirect viewing. Never aim binoculars, a camera, or a telescope at the Sun without a proper solar filter.
If you’re new to all this, start with the lunar eclipse. It’s free, safe, and easy—no gear needed, no precise aiming, no risk to your eyes. Just step outside and look up. The Moon will slowly slide into Earth’s shadow, the sky will deepen, and the stars will multiply as the bright glare fades. During totality, spend a minute finding Regulus and Spica flanking the dimmed Moon; it’s a simple stargazing win you’ll remember the next morning.
Local science centers and astronomy clubs often host watch parties for both lunar and solar eclipses. If you’re in a city, those meetups can be a lifesaver, putting you under darker skies with people who know where and when to look. They also tend to have spare eclipse viewers on hand for the solar event.
It’s easy to forget how rare these lineups are. Even though lunar eclipses can happen once or twice a year somewhere on Earth, any single spot won’t see a long, well-timed totality all that often. That’s part of the draw this March: the timing works for millions across the Americas, and the duration gives everyone a fair chance to catch it around work or school schedules.
If you track celestial events casually, mark these two March dates and you’re set. If you want to go deeper, you can follow the rhythm of the year’s remaining eclipses and watch how they cluster within their seasons. Either way, the sky is handing out a prime-time show to start 2025. Clear skies, warm jacket, and a bit of curiosity—that’s enough.
One last tip: plan for glow. Streetlights, digital billboards, even bright smartphone screens can kill dark adaptation. Dim your phone, switch to a red night mode if you have it, and give yourself a few minutes in the dark. The moment the Moon turns that rusty red, you’ll be glad you did.
For searchers keeping tabs on the calendar, this is the year of 2025 eclipses. Start with the blood-red Moon in mid-March, then gear up for safe solar viewing two weeks later. If the clouds don’t cooperate on one of those nights, don’t sweat it—another pair arrives later in the year. The sky always gives you another chance.
