Total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026: the “Blood Moon” arrives over the Pacific and the Americas, Europe misses the show
In the early hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the full Moon will enter Earth’s shadow and, for almost an hour, take on a dark red to copper hue. This is a total lunar eclipse, a phenomenon that can be watched without any protective equipment, but this time it will not be visible from Europe and Africa. Observers in Croatia will be able to follow the event only via live streams and recordings, while the best conditions will be for observers on the planet’s “night side” above the Pacific and in North and Central America.
Lunar eclipses regularly draw great interest because they combine a dramatic visual effect with ease of observation: all you need is a clear sky and a view of the Moon. Still, the geometry of the Earth–Moon–Sun system is strict and leaves no room for improvisation. Who will see the total phase, and who only a partial “bite” of shadow, depends on whether the Moon is above the horizon at the crucial moments.
How an eclipse happens and why it doesn’t occur at every full Moon
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is positioned exactly between the Sun and the Moon, so the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow. This can happen only at full Moon, but not at every full Moon. The reason is the tilt of the Moon’s orbit relative to Earth’s orbit around the Sun: most often the Moon passes slightly “above” or “below” the shadow, so nothing special is seen.
For an eclipse to occur, the full Moon must be near the nodes of its orbit—the points where the Moon’s orbit crosses the plane of Earth’s orbit. When that condition coincides with full Moon, the Moon can enter the penumbra (partial shadow), and with favorable geometry also the umbra (the dark central shadow). The umbra is what creates the striking view: the Moon’s edge gradually “disappears” into darkness, and during totality the entire disk takes on a reddish color.
Who gets the best view: visibility by region
According to NASA visibility maps, the total phase of this eclipse will be seen in the evening from East Asia and Australia, during the night over much of the Pacific, and in the early morning from North and Central America and the far western parts of South America. In Central Asia and across much of South America the eclipse will be partial, meaning only part of the Moon will enter the umbra. From Africa and Europe the eclipse will not be visible because the key phases take place while the Moon is below the horizon.
Such “unfairness” is the rule rather than the exception: a lunar eclipse is visible at the same time from the entire half of Earth facing the Moon, but only if the Moon is above the horizon. Observers near the edge of the visibility zone often get a shortened version because the Moon rises or sets as it enters or leaves the umbra. As a result, for example, parts of the U.S. East Coast will see the start of totality but may miss its “full” depth if the Moon sets in the meantime.
Timeline: key moments in UTC and conversion to Central European Time
NASA’s timeline for March 3, 2026 provides a clear picture of how the event develops, from subtle dimming to a complete change of color. Below are the key phases in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), with a reference conversion for Croatia (CET, UTC+1). Although the eclipse is not visible from Croatia, the times are useful for following streams and comparing with observers in other parts of the world.
- Entry into the penumbra (start of partial shadow): 08:44 UTC (09:44 CET) – the Moon enters the outer part of the shadow; the dimming is slight and, at first glance, inconspicuous to many.
- Start of the partial eclipse: 09:50 UTC (10:50 CET) – the Moon’s edge enters the umbra and the “bite” of dark shadow becomes clearly visible to the naked eye.
- Start of totality: 11:04 UTC (12:04 CET) – the entire lunar disk is in the umbra; the color shifts to copper-red, sometimes even dark brown, depending on the state of Earth’s atmosphere.
- End of totality: 12:03 UTC (13:03 CET) – the reddish hue gradually fades as the Moon exits the central shadow.
- End of the partial eclipse: 13:17 UTC (14:17 CET) – the entire Moon is outside the umbra; only the penumbra remains.
- End of the penumbral phase: 14:23 UTC (15:23 CET) – the eclipse ends; the dimming in the penumbra is again subtle and easy to miss.
For observers in the United States and Canada, local times are often given as well: the start of the penumbral phase in the Pacific time zone falls shortly after midnight, and totality occurs in the early morning hours. In eastern Australia and parts of East Asia, totality takes place in the evening, which can be an advantage for those who want to watch without staying up all night.
What you actually see: from a “bite” of shadow to a red disk
The eclipse experience changes minute by minute. In the penumbral phase the Moon only dims slightly, as if someone lowered the contrast on a photograph. That’s why more experienced observers often compare the Moon’s brightness with nearby stars or track changes in bright regions such as the Ocean of Storms and large craters near the rim.
The partial phase brings the strongest visual contrast: the umbra is sharply visible as a dark arc that “bites” into the Moon’s disk. As the shadow advances, details on the affected portion become harder to make out, and the boundary between the lit and darkened parts often looks like a three-dimensional “cut” across a sphere.
During totality, paradoxically, the Moon does not disappear. Instead, it takes on a reddish tone that can range from orange to dark red, sometimes even grayish. That color is precisely what has turned the eclipse into a “Blood Moon” in popular culture, even though it is entirely predictable optics, not anything supernatural.
Why the Moon turns red: Earth’s atmosphere as filter and lens
The explanation is elegant: although Earth blocks direct sunlight, some light passes through the outer layers of the atmosphere, is refracted inward, and reaches the Moon’s surface. The atmosphere strongly scatters blue and violet wavelengths, while red and orange pass through more easily. The result is that the Moon is “projected” with the combined light of all sunsets and sunrises along Earth’s limb.
How bright the Moon will be and how “blood-red” it looks depends on atmospheric clarity. If there are more aerosols, dust, or particles in the air after major volcanic eruptions, totality can be darker and browner. Astronomers sometimes use the Danjon scale to describe the brightness and hue of the total phase, but for most observers it is enough to remember that the same type of eclipse can look different from year to year.
How to observe and photograph the eclipse: practical tips without special equipment
Unlike solar eclipses, there is no risk to your eyes during a lunar eclipse: the Moon is reflected light and can be viewed with the naked eye. Still, a few simple steps can significantly improve the experience.
- Find a darker place: the less street lighting and light pollution, the more pronounced the reddish hue will be.
- A stable view of the horizon: in regions where the Moon is low, an open horizon decides whether totality will be visible or “eaten” by moonset.
- Binoculars or a small telescope: magnification reveals details in shadowed areas and color transitions; even ordinary binoculars can be surprisingly effective.
- Photography: totality is much darker than a full Moon, so longer exposures are needed. A camera on a tripod or a stable surface, with a remote shutter or a timer delay, reduces shake. On phones, night mode helps, but results depend on the device’s optics.
For more serious photography, it is recommended to shoot both before and during totality to capture the difference in color. It’s a good idea to take a series of photos at regular intervals and later assemble them into a timeline, because the eclipse looks like a “live” animation in the sky.
Starry backdrop: the Moon in Leo and unexpectedly “darker” skies
NASA notes that during the eclipse the Moon will be in the constellation Leo. That means brighter stars will be in that part of the sky—stars that often get washed out by the glare of a full Moon. As the shadow dims the Moon’s brightness, the sky can look darker than usual during full Moon, making constellations and fainter objects easier to spot.
For observers in the visibility zone, this is a good opportunity to compare the sky’s appearance on the same evening before the eclipse and during totality. In practice, the difference is especially noticeable in urban areas: when the Moon “softens,” light pollution remains, but contrast against the sky can become more favorable.
Another sky event in March: Venus–Saturn conjunction on March 8
A few days after the lunar eclipse, on March 8, 2026, Venus and Saturn will appear to draw close in the sky in a so-called conjunction. According to data from In-The-Sky.org, at the moment of conjunction the planets will have almost the same right ascension, and will be separated by about one degree—close enough to stand out as a striking pair in good twilight. Still, observing can be challenging because they will be relatively close to the Sun, so in many places they will be low above the western horizon at dusk. A clear view to the west and clear skies are crucial for success.
What observers in Croatia can expect: streams now, a real view later
Since the total eclipse on March 3, 2026 cannot be seen from Croatia, the realistic option is live streams announced by astronomical institutions and specialized sky-tracking services. Such streams often include graphics with phases, a visibility map, and astronomers’ commentary, which can be useful even for those who do not usually follow sky events.
For eclipse enthusiasts in Europe, the next opportunity for a lunar eclipse in 2026 comes in late August: according to timeanddate.com, the partial eclipse on August 27/28 is visible from much of Europe, and therefore from Croatia as well, depending on local conditions and the Moon’s position in the sky. In the same year, on August 12, 2026, there is also a total solar eclipse; according to the National Solar Observatory, the path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, and northern Spain, while Croatia is expected to see a partial phase, with mandatory eye protection during observation.
Given that the March eclipse is globally attractive and easy to follow in the visibility regions, increased interest in streams and photographs is expected. For the domestic audience, it is a reminder that astronomy is not reserved for observatories: sometimes it’s enough to open a window, and sometimes, as this time, a good live stream can be the fastest route to the “Blood Moon.”
Sources:- NASA Science – guide and timeline for the total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026 (link)
- NASA Scientific Visualization Studio – visibility map and explanation of eclipse phase contour lines (link)
- timeanddate.com – local times, map, and overview of the eclipse event on March 2–3, 2026 (link)
- In-The-Sky.org – data on the Venus–Saturn conjunction on March 8, 2026 (link)
- timeanddate.com – overview of the partial lunar eclipse on August 27–28, 2026 (visibility in Europe) (link)
- National Solar Observatory – overview of the totality path for the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026 (link)
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