Get ready for March’s full “Blood Worm Moon,” a phenomenon that will make the moon appear red during a total lunar eclipse.
The full moon reaches peak illumination at 6:55 a.m. UTC on Friday, March 14. The total lunar eclipse will make the moon appear red on Thursday, March 13 into the following day, depending on the time zone, according to NASA. This eclipse will be visible from Earth’s Western Hemisphere.
When and where to see the “Blood Worm Moon”
The “Blood Moon” phenomenon will start before the full moon reaches peak illumination. As the lunar eclipse begins, the moon will start moving through Earth’s shadow on Friday at 7:57 a.m. UTC However, the moon’s gradual dimming won’t be noticeable until around 5:09 a.m. on Friday. The moon will be fully shaded from around 6:26 a.m. to 7:31 a.m., with the peak viewing opportunity for the red moon happening around 6:59 a.m.
What is a lunar eclipse and why does it make the moon look red?
When the sun, Earth and moon all align so that the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow, there’s a lunar eclipse. During a total lunar eclipse, like the one happening this week, the entire moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow.
