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Total lunar eclipse March 2025: Live updates

The next lunar eclipse will be overnight on March 13-14, 2025.

stages of the total lunar eclipse show the moon turn a progressively red colour.
(Image: © Canva Pro)

The next lunar eclipse will be a total lunar eclipse overnight on March 13-14, 2025. It is the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022.

The total lunar eclipse will be visible over North America, and most of South America.

During a total lunar eclipse, the moon will appear to take on a red hue, giving rise to the "Blood Moon".

What are lunar eclipses? | How to photograph a lunar eclipse

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This week's 'blood moon' eclipse mirrors one Christopher Columbus used to scare indigenous people in 1504

image of a blood red moon during a total lunar eclipse on the left and a sketch of columbus pointing up at the eclipse with frightened people around him.

This week's 'blood moon' eclipse mirrors one Christopher Columbus used to scare indigenous people in 1504. (Image credit: Created in Canva by Daisy Dobrijevic furnished with Columbus image (credit: mikroman6 / Getty Images))

On March 13-14, 2025, skywatchers in the Americas will witness a total lunar eclipse that mirrors one Christopher Columbus is said to have used to his advantage over five centuries ago.

In 1504, Christopher Columbus, on his fourth trans-Atlantic voyage, was stranded on the shores of Jamaica, with his ships crawling with marine worms and his crew hungry. The Indigenous Arawak people, who had initially welcomed the Europeans, had grown weary of their demands.

But Columbus had a trick up his sleeve: According to The Guardian, he consulted his astronomical tables and saw that a total lunar eclipse was imminent on March 1, 1504.

Read more: This week's 'blood moon' eclipse mirrors one Christopher Columbus used to scare indigenous people in 1504

What will happen during the total lunar eclipse of March 2025?

composite image showing the stages of a total lunar eclipse with the moon turning progressively more red as Earth's shadow sweeps across it.

Observers across most of the United States will have front-row seats to the spectacular total lunar eclipse overnight on March 13-14. (Image credit: HASSAN AMMAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Observers across most of the United States will have front-row seats to the spectacular total lunar eclipse overnight on March 13-14.

The viewing circumstances for the total eclipse of the full moon that night will be as good as it can get for much of the United States and Canada. The western part of the continent has the best view, but the spectacle of the moon completely immersed in the Earth's shadow will be readily visible from coast to coast.

The duration of totality will be longer than normal, lasting 1 hour and 6 minutes.

Read more: What will happen during the total lunar eclipse of March 2025?

Where to see the blood moon total lunar eclipse

blood red moon during a total lunar eclipse next to a building with two statues on the roof

During the total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, 2025, the lunar surface will turn red for 65 minutes. (Image credit: HAGENS WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY via Getty Images)

On March 13-14, 2025, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across Earth's night side.

Although the point of greatest eclipse will be in the Pacific Ocean, North America and South America will get the best views. Some areas of Europe will get a slight view of the moonset, and East Asia will glimpse the spectacle at moonrise.

Read more: Where will the 'Blood Moon' total lunar eclipse be visible in March 2025?

One month to go: Are you ready for the total lunar eclipse?

With just one month to go until the total lunar eclipse, here's everything you need to know to make sure you are 'Blood Moon' ready.

Read more: Total lunar eclipse brings a Blood Moon to North America next month. Here's how to see it

gif animation showing the moon turn progressively red during a blood moon total lunar eclipse.

During a total lunar eclipse the moon will turn blood red. (Image credit: CreativeSource via Getty Images)