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tioo World Moon Space trivia

‘Blood Moon’: Today’s Lunar Event Won’t Happen Again Until 2028

There will be a total lunar eclipse tonight (3 March) that’ll lead to a “blood moon”.

This will see the moon turn a deep red or orange as the Earth interrupts some of the sun’s rays, usually reflected by the satellite.

And it’s the last one we’re expected to get until 2028.

Why do total solar eclipses make the moon look red?

Total solar eclipses can only happen during a full moon. They occur when the Earth is positioned directly between the sun and the moon.

The “blood moon” occurs when the Earth’s “umbra”, or the shadow of its centre, covers the moon.

During this period, the light on the moon gets filtered through the Earth’s atmosphere.

Shorter wavelengths, which create colours like blue, scatter more quickly than longer ones, like red and orange.

That means redder hues show up on the moon’s surface during the eclipse.

The more dust in our atmosphere, the redder the moon will appear.

Where can I see the blood moon?

Unfortunately, it’s not going to be visible in the UK.

Nor will it be seen from Africa or the rest of Europe.

But America, parts of East Asia, the Pacific region, and Australia will see the event at its burgundy best.

Though the actual eclipse will last just under an hour, the red effect is expected to stick around for much longer.

There will be partial lunar eclipses long before 2028, however

OK, so we’ll have to wait a while for our next total solar eclipse.

But partial solar eclipses, which occur when the moon is full but the Earth doesn’t sit perfectly between it and the sun, are a little more common.

The next lunar eclipse is expected in late August 2026.

Partial lunar eclipses can look different depending on your location.

Speaking of which, more good news: the next partial lunar eclipse will be visible from the UK and Europe.

And you don’t need any fancy tools to observe it – just head outside and look up.

tioo World Earth Moon Space

On 3 March, The ‘Worm Moon’ Will Turn Blood Red

On 3 March 2026, the “worm moon” – a name given to the full moon in March – will rise.

And due to an event called a total lunar eclipse, this year, it’s set to look deep red from some parts of the Earth.

What is a total lunar eclipse?

This can only happen during a full moon. It occurs when the Earth gets into a position right in between the moon and the sun, making the surface of the moon look dimmer.

When the moon moves into the inner part of the Earth’s shadow (its umbra) in a total lunar eclipse, the Earth’s atmosphere filters the light from the sun to the moon.

Why will March’s “blood moon” be red?

During a total lunar eclipse, the light on the moon has to pass through our atmosphere.

Because shorter waves of light, like blue and purple tones, scatter faster than their longer-length cousins, red and orange, the moon can look reddish or orange during the event.

“It’s as if all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon,” NASA said.

This is sometimes called a blood moon, thanks to the colour.

The more dust in our atmosphere, the redder the moon is likely to look.

When will the “blood moon” happen?

It’s set to happen on 3 March, 2026. And while the time the moon actually spends in the Earth’s umbra is just under an hour, Space.com said that “the show goes on for much longer than that”.

The eclipse will “peak” at 11:33am GMT. At this point, the moon will move closest to the centre of the Earth’s shadow, as part of the “eclipse maximum”.

Where can I see the March blood moon?

Sadly, it won’t be visible from the UK or Ireland – nor will it be seen from Africa or Europe.

But views from North America, the Pacific area, Australia, and parts of East Asia are expected to be particularly stunning.

Why is the March moon called the “worm moon”?

Per Royal Museums Greenwich, the name comes from Native Americans, who coined the term because of “the worm trails that would appear in the newly thawed ground” in March.

Other names include the death moon, crust moon, sap moon, and chaste moon.

And, of course, this month, it counts as a “blood moon” too.

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