Worm Blood Moon: Total lunar eclipse to grace the skies this week

Are you ready for one of the most extraordinary full moons of the decade? Later this week, one of the most beautiful celestial sights of all comes to North America as the full “Worm Moon” is totally eclipsed by Earth. The final full moon of winter will pass through our planet’s dark shadow in space to become, for 65 minutes only, a reddish-hued “blood moon.”

Viewable by the entirety of North America if skies are clear, this first total lunar eclipse for two and a half years—the good view of one for the continent until 2029—promises to be a highlight of 2025. Here’s everything you need to know to see the “blood moon” at its best.

What Is The Worm Moon?

The Worm Moon is the traditional name for the March full moon in early Native American and European folklore. It marks a time of year when earthworms begin to emerge from the thawing soil, signaling the end of winter and the approach of spring.

In 2025, the Worm Moon will reach its full phase at 2:56 a.m. EST on Friday, March 14, and will rise later that evening, glowing warmly in the eastern sky.

This year, however, Earth’s shadow will fully envelop the almost full moon during the night, turning it red for a dramatic 65 minutes.

When Is The Total Lunar Eclipse?

The total lunar eclipse will occur overnight on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14, 2025. The event is global, occurring at the same time for everyone on the night side of Earth. Here are the key times for North American viewers:

Eastern Time (EST): Totality from 2:26 a.m. to 3:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14.
Central Time (CST): Totality from 1:26 a.m. to 2:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14.
Mountain Time (MST): Totality from 12:26 a.m. to 1:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14.
Pacific Time (PST): Totality from 11:26 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, to 12:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14.
Alaska Time (AKST): Totality from 10:26 p.m. to 11:31 p.m. on Thursday, March 13.
Hawaii Time (HST): Totality from 8:26 p.m. to 9:31 p.m. on Thursday, March 13.

The partial phases, which occur before and after totality, are also worth watching. They begin about an hour before totality and continue for about an hour minutes after, as Earth’s shadow gradually moves across and then away from the moon.

How To Watch The Blood Moon

The best time to observe the “blood moon” is during totality, when the full moon is fully immersed in Earth’s shadow and takes on a reddish and even coppery glow. Its briefly striking color is caused by sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere and refracting onto the moon’s surface, with smoke or ash in the atmosphere contributing to the exact colors seen.

You don’t need to go anywhere special to see the eclipse—light pollution in urban areas won’t affect the view. However, what light pollution will lessen the impact of is the appearance of stars around the moon as the night sky darkens considerably during totality. That’s why astrophotographers will likely visit dark sky destinations to take wide-angle shots of the sky and landscapes below, though close-ups through telescopes are possible from any location on the night side of Earth.

Since the event takes place overnight in March in the Northern Hemisphere, warm clothes, blankets and hot drinks are recommended, as are binoculars or a telescope for a close-up, though naked eyes are all that’s needed.

When To See The Worm Moon Rise

After the eclipse is over, the Worm Moon set in the west during dawn on Friday, March 14, only to rise again in the evening, just after sunset. Moonrise times vary by location:

New York: sunset at 7:01 p.m. EDT; moonrise at 7:38 p.m. EDT.
Los Angeles: sunset at 6:59 p.m. PDT; moonrise at 7:41 p.m. PDT.
London: sunset at 6:02 p.m. BST; moonrise at 6:31 p.m. BST.

While the total lunar eclipse the previous night will have been visible only to those on the night side of Earth, the sight of the full moon appearing on the eastern horizon and climbing higher in the sky will be visible across the world.

When Is The Next Full Moon?

The final full moon of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Worm Moon, will be followed on Saturday, April 12, by the Pink Moon, the first full moon of spring. Before that, on March 29, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from northeastern North America and across Europe.

Source: Forbes

--Agencies