The eclipse will begin with the penumbral phase at 03:57 UTC on March 14. The partial eclipse starts at 05:09 UTC when the Moon begins to enter the umbra, appearing as if a bite is being taken out of it.
The total eclipse phase, or totality, will last approximately 65 minutes, beginning at 06:26 UTC and ending at 07:31 UTC. During totality, the Moon will take on its deep red hue. The eclipse will then transition back through the partial and penumbral phases, concluding at 10:00 UTC.
This total lunar eclipse will be visible in the Western Hemisphere, covering most of North and South America.
The instant of greatest eclipse occurs 3.4 days before the Moon reaches apogee, meaning the Moon will appear slightly smaller than usual during totality. At the time of the eclipse, the Moon will be positioned in the constellation Leo.
This eclipse falls within Brown Lunation Number 1264 and is part of Saros cycle 123, making it the 53rd eclipse out of 72 in this series. Each eclipse in Saros 123 occurs at the Moon’s descending node, with the Moon shifting northward relative to the node with each successive event, gradually increasing its gamma value—a measure of the eclipse’s alignment with Earth’s shadow.
This lunar eclipse is followed two weeks later by a partial solar eclipse on March 29, 2025.
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon enters the Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of its shadow. During this phase, the Moon appears coppery red because of sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere, a phenomenon often called a “Blood Moon.”
The red coloration of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse is caused by Rayleigh scattering, the same phenomenon responsible for blue skies and red sunsets on Earth. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, shorter wavelengths (blue light) scatter more, while longer wavelengths (red light) continue through, refracting around Earth and illuminating the Moon.
During an eclipse, “it’s as if all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon,” creating the characteristic red hue. The exact color can vary depending on atmospheric conditions, including volcanic activity, dust, and pollution.
The eclipse will be best viewed from dark locations with minimal light pollution. A clear western horizon is recommended for Europe and Africa, where the eclipse will be partially visible at moonset.
Apart from the eclipse, skywatchers can look toward the western sky to spot Jupiter and Mars. As the Moon darkens, it will be easier to spot fainter stars and constellations that are usually washed out by its brightness.
References:
1 What You Need To Know About the March 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse – NASA – February 6, 2025
2 Total Lunar Eclipse of 2025 Mar 14 – EclipseWise – Accessed March 9, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.