The first total lunar eclipse since 2022 is happening early Friday, March 14.
If the skies are clear, everyone in the contiguous U.S., Mexico, and Canada will be able to see it.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves into Earth’s shadow, and this eclipse will last for just over an hour. But you’ll need to be a night owl (or an early riser) to catch it, it happens from 1:26 a.m. to 2:32 a.m. Central Time.
In Houston, the partial eclipse begins at 12:09 a.m. and ends at 3:48 a.m.; the partial phase happens when the moon enters Earth’s penumbra (Latin for “almost shadow”).
The moon won’t pass through the center of Earth’s shadow, instead, it will move through the northern half, making the upper part of the moon appear slightly brighter during totality.
Why does the moon turn red?
During totality, the full moon moves into Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of its shadow, where sunlight is completely blocked. (Umbra is Latin for “shadow.”)
So why does the moon turn red? It’s all because of Earth’s atmosphere. Normally, during a full moon, we see its bright white-gray surface lit by direct sunlight. However, during an eclipse, sunlight gets filtered through Earth’s atmosphere, and only the red and orange wavelengths make it through, giving the moon that eerie, reddish glow. The exact shade depends on how much dust and volcanic ash are in the air.
And here’s a fun thought: if you were standing on the moon during an eclipse, looking back at Earth, you’d see every sunrise and sunset happening at the same time. How cool is that?
My all-time favorite lunar eclipse photo was taken by professional photographer Mike Mezeul on April 14, 2014. What makes this absolutely perfect is the stunning Texas bluebonnets in the foreground. The time-lapse captures every phase of the eclipse, with the moon glowing a deep red during totality, a truly breathtaking sight!
As the moon moves into Earth’s shadow, you can actually see our planet’s curves projected onto its surface. Greek astronomers as far back as the 5th century BC pointed to this as proof that Earth is round. Only a spherical object can cast the same circular shadow every time.
Below is a time-lapse photo from our last lunar eclipse on May 16, 2022. Photographer Sergio Garcia Rill captured this stunning image at the San Jacinto Monument in La Porte, beautifully showcasing each eclipse phase.
This is a photo I took of the total lunar eclipse on November 19, 2021, at KPRC 2.
It’s a great example of how mobile phones often struggle to capture the true beauty of the event. While not necessary, binoculars or a telescope can make the view even more spectacular.
There won’t be any total or annular solar eclipses this year, but there is another total lunar eclipse on Sept. 7. Unfortunately, America will miss out on this one, but skywatchers in Asia and Australia will get a great view.
As for the U.S., the next total lunar eclipse visible here won’t be until March 3, 2026.