Total Lunar Eclipse Blood Moon Marks Final U.S. Viewing Until 2029

Early Tuesday morning, March 3, much of the United States will look up to see the moon slip quietly into Earth’s shadow, turning a deep copper red before dawn. It is a total lunar eclipse, the last one visible from the country until 2029, and for many on the East Coast, it will be a brief show.

Unlike a solar eclipse, which traces a narrow path, a lunar eclipse is visible anywhere the moon is above the horizon. The experience, though, depends entirely on geography and timing. For viewers in the western United States and across the Pacific, the full sequence will unfold high in a dark sky. Those in the central states will catch totality comfortably before sunrise. Along the Eastern Seaboard, the moon will be low in the western sky as totality begins, and it will set not long after.

The eclipse begins subtly at 3:44 a.m. Eastern time, when the moon enters Earth’s penumbra, the lighter outer shadow. Most casual observers will notice little change at first. By 4:50 a.m. Eastern, the partial phase begins, and the shadow appears to take a clear bite out of the lunar disk.

Totality runs from 6:04 a.m. to 7:03 a.m. Eastern. That hour is when the entire moon rests within Earth’s umbra, the darker central shadow, and takes on the reddish hue that has earned it the nickname “blood moon.” The deepest color comes near the midpoint.

For cities such as New York, Boston and Miami, however, the moon will be approaching the horizon at the start of totality. In many cases, only 20 to 30 minutes of the red phase will be visible before moonset. A clear view to the west will be essential; buildings, trees or hills could block the final moments entirely.

Farther west, in places such as Los Angeles and Denver, the eclipse will be higher in the sky during totality, offering a longer and more comfortable viewing window. The entire event spans more than five and a half hours from first penumbral contact to the final exit from shadow, but most viewers will focus on the red hour.

The science behind the color is straightforward. As Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, its atmosphere bends and filters sunlight. Blue wavelengths scatter away, while red and orange light pass through and spill into the shadow. The effect is similar to the glow of sunrise and sunset, projected across the lunar surface.

There is no danger in watching a lunar eclipse. Unlike a solar eclipse, it requires no protective eyewear and can be observed safely with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

Weather will be the deciding factor for many. Historically, the U.S. Southwest and parts of northwest Mexico tend to offer clearer skies before sunrise, while the East Coast’s outlook is more variable. Cloud cover could determine who actually sees the final total lunar eclipse from the United States for the next three years.

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For those willing to set an early alarm, the alignment of sun, Earth and moon will unfold slowly overhead. It is a familiar celestial rhythm, but one that does not repeat often on a convenient schedule. After Tuesday, American viewers will wait until 2029 for another chance.