Total lunar eclipse with blood-red moon to appear above California. Here’s when to look up
California stargazers can spot an unusual sight in the night sky in March: a total lunar eclipse with a blood-red moon.
In the middle of the month, the moon will become “a crimson orb” as the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, according to NASA.
Californians can also glimpse a bright Mercury and a full moon during some clear nights in March.
Here’s what to know about the celestial happenings:
How to glimpse Mercury in the night sky
Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, will reach peak visibility on Saturday, March 8, according to The Weather Channel.
The quick-moving planet orbits the sun in 88 days, so it speedily changes positions in the sky from night to night, making it difficult for the amateur stargazer to view, NASA said.
“The planet is usually elusive, as it gets lost in the sun’s glare most days,” The Weather Channel said on its website, Weather.com.
However, Mercury can be easily spotted from Earth when the planet appears to be at its farthest distance from the sun, NASA said. This happens about every four months.
Stargazers will be able to see Mercury in the west about 30 minutes after sunset on Saturday, March 8, according to The Weather Channel.
NASA recommended looking about 10 degrees above the horizon to glimpse the “fast-moving Mercury” in the Northern Hemisphere.
“You’ll want to ensure your view isn’t blocked by trees, buildings, or other obstructions,” NASA spokesman Preston Dyches said. “Observing from a large, open field, or the shore of a lake or the seaside can be helpful.”
What’s the best time to see full moon in California?
The third full moon of 2025 will reach peak illumination at 11:54 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, in California, according to Time and Date, an online calendar.
The March full moon is called the worm moon, which appears to be a reference to the earthworms that emerge when soil begins to warm up.
According to the Old Farmers Almanac, however, the moon’s name actually refers to the worm-like beetle larvae that come out from winter hideouts, such as thawing tree bark, during this time of year.
Other names for the full moon in March include the eagle moon, goose moon, crow comes back moon and sugar moon, according to the Almanac.
The full moon in March will also be a blood moon, appearing as a total lunar eclipse becomes visible across Northern America.
What is a total lunar eclipse?
Californians have a chance to see the moon pass through Earth’s shadow during a total lunar eclipse in March.
According to NASA, the eclipse will be visible across North and South America starting Thursday, March 13, and continuing into Friday, March 14.
Once the eclipse starts, the full moon will take on a reddish hue and begin to look like a chunk has been taken out from one side, NASA said.
“As maximum eclipse nears, the moon transforms into a deep crimson orb,” the space agency said. “That red color comes from the ring of all the sunsets and sunrises you’d see encircling our planet if you were an astronaut on the lunar surface right then.”
When the moon is in the shadow, or the umbra, of the Earth, our planet casts a reddish shadow.
That crimson hue is how it got the name blood moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
As the total lunar eclipse winds down, the process plays out in reverse.
The moon’s red coloring begins to fade and the dark part shrinks down until the moon’s appearance returns to its typical shape, according to NASA.
When can I watch the eclipse in California?
In California, the total lunar eclipse will begin at 8:57 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, and reach its peak at 11:58 p.m., eventually ending around 3 a.m., according to Time and Date.
