What You Need to Know to Prepare for March's Total Lunar Eclipse

Astronomy enthusiasts are already looking forward to the only total lunar eclipse of the year. Here is what you need to know about when this spectacle in the sky will happen and what parts of the country will enjoy the best views.

Understanding the Science of a Total Lunar Eclipse

The sole total lunar eclipse of the year will take place in the overnight hours of Monday, March 2, and into the early morning hours of March 3. Although a partial lunar eclipse will be visible for most of the U.S., only the West Coast will be in the path of full totality. When this happens for this slice of the nation in the pre-dawn hours of March 3, those up early enough to see it will gawk in wonder at a moon that appears blood red.

On a global scale, over 3.3 billion people live in the part of the world that will see the full total eclipse. However, Mother Nature will need to cooperate by delivering clear skies for optimum viewing conditions.

Lunar eclipses are often called blood moons due to their brilliant red appearance. During this type of eclipse event, the moon passes through Earth's darkest shadow, known in scientific terms as the umbra. Rather than disappearing from sight, the moon picks up a reddish hue as the sunlight is filtered through the planet's atmosphere.