Moon to turn into ‘crimson orb’ during total lunar eclipse in California. Here’s how to watch
Californians will soon have the chance to glimpse a special celestial sight: a total lunar eclipse with a blood-red moon.
On the evening of Thursday, March 13, the moon will transform into “a crimson orb” as it passes through Earth’s shadow, according to NASA.
Here’s how to watch the unique astronomy event in the night sky:
What is a total lunar eclipse?
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, moon and Earth are aligned in a way that the moon crosses into Earth’s shadow, according to NASA.
In 2025, the lunar eclipse will be visible across North and South America starting Thursday, March 13, and continuing into Friday, March 14, the federal space agency said.
What will lunar eclipse look like?
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 an orange-reddish shadow.
That crimson hue is the reason we call it a “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.
What time is the eclipse in California?
In California, the total lunar eclipse will start late Thursday night and end in the early hours of Friday morning, according to Time and Date.
At 8:57 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, the penumbral stage of the eclipse begins.
“This is where the moon passes through the light, outer part of Earth’s shadow, called the penumbra,” Time and Date said.
The surface of the moon will dim until the lunar eclipse reaches its peak at 11:58 p.m.
California stargazers can observe the total eclipse until 12:31 a.m.
After that, the moon will gradually become lighter until the lunar eclipse eventually ends around 3 a.m., according to Time and Date.
What’s the best way to watch the blood moon?
The total lunar eclipse will be visible under clear skies across the western hemisphere.
“You don’t need any special equipment to observe a lunar eclipse, although binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view,” NASA said.
Amateur astronomers can get the best views of the blood moon by watching the eclipse in a dark environment far away from city lights, according to NASA.
What will weather be like in California during eclipse?
The sky in Modesto and Sacramento will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms during the night of the eclipse, according to to the National Weather Service’s seven-day forecast.
The forecast in Fresno calls for mostly cloudy skies after 11 p.m. Thursday, the weather service said.
In Merced, there is a chance of rain and increasing cloud cover in the later evening hours, according to the weather service.
Cloudy conditions are expected in San Luis Obispo with a 30% chance of rain after 11 p.m. Thursday, the federal agency said.
When is next total lunar eclipse visible in North America?
If rain clouds cover this year’s blood moon, Californians will have to wait about a year to get a second chance at glimpsing an eclipse.
According to Time and Date, the next total lunar eclipse will be visible in California and other parts of North America on March 3, 2026.
This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
