Set Your Alarm: A Total Lunar Eclipse Is Happening Tuesday

Set your alarm. In the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across much of the United States — and you don't need any special equipment to enjoy it.

What Is a Lunar Eclipse?

A lunar eclipse happens when Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. During the total phase, the Moon takes on a deep reddish-orange color, which is why these events are often called a "blood Moon." That striking color comes from sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere, essentially projecting all of the world's sunrises and sunsets onto the Moon at once.

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