Look to the skies this March, Atlanta! If you love all-things moon and celestial, we’ve got some great news for ya. This March, the last total lunar eclipse until New Year’s Eve of 2028 (into 2029) will create a haunting, deep red blood moon in the sky. Keep scrolling for all the details.
When is the blood moon & lunar eclipse?
According to Space.com, the BEST time to see the red hues of the blood moon on the East Coast is between 6:04-7:02 a.m. EST on March 3, 2026 The moon will set during totality in the Eastern time zone.
They do note,
These are the times for totality only. However, it’s worth looking at the moon about 75 minutes before these times to see the edge of Earth’s shadow inch across the lunar surface during the partial phases (and vice versa after totality, though for North America, the moon will be setting).
Sources for the actual duration of totality vary, but it’s widely agreed upon that totality is calculated to last around 58 minutes and 19 seconds, with the blood moon’s red color lasting a little longer, 82(ish) minutes, depending on atmospheric conditions.
Will I be able to see the blood moon from Atlanta?
Yes!
Even though it’ll be early in the morning, you will be able to see the blood moon during its moon set. And you should still check out the moon the night before and off (March 2nd and 3rd)! Because it’ll still be massive and beautiful!
What is a total lunar eclipse and blood moon?
The experts at International Business Times explains a total lunar eclipse and blood moon like this:
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of its shadow, completely envelops the Moon. In March 2026, the full ‘Worm Moon’ will pass into this umbral shadow, blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface and beginning the eclipse. Now, as sunlight passes through the edges of Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue wavelengths are scattered out, while longer red wavelengths are bent and refracted into the shadow. These red wavelengths paint the Moon in shades ranging from brick-red to coppery orange, which is why so many cultures refer to this phenomenon as a blood moon.
In other words, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the earth gets in between the sun and the moon, causing the earth’s shadow to be projected onto the moon.
Don’t miss out on this extremely rare and beautiful natural phenomenon! Look to the skies this March, Atlanta!