Total Lunar Eclipse Visible in North America March 3

A total lunar eclipse will grace the skies over North America and much of the world early on Tuesday, March 3, offering skywatchers a striking view of the Moon turning a reddish hue as it passes through Earth's shadow. The event, the third total lunar eclipse visible across the contiguous United States in the past year, begins around 3:43 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and unfolds over nearly six hours, with the most dramatic phase of totality lasting 59 minutes.

This eclipse occurs when the Earth positions itself directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. The alignment is precise enough for a total eclipse, though such events are infrequent due to the Moon's tilted orbit relative to Earth's path around the Sun. Observers in North and South America, parts of Asia, Australia, and polar regions can catch at least portions of the spectacle under clear skies.

The eclipse progresses through distinct phases defined by Earth's dual shadow structure: the faint outer penumbra, where sunlight is partially blocked, and the darker inner umbra, which fully obscures direct rays. It starts with the penumbral phase at 3:43 a.m. EST, lasting about 1 hour and...