Upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse: March 3 Visibility Guide

A total lunar eclipse is anticipated to be visible across much of the Americas on the morning of Tuesday, March 3, provided weather conditions are clear. This celestial event, characterized by the moon's passage through Earth's shadow, is observable from any location within the hemisphere where the moon is above the horizon. Regions near the Pacific Rim are particularly well-suited for viewing the full event.

Regional Visibility Highlights

For North America, observers in the Eastern Time Zone may witness the moon setting during the total phase at dawn. Farther west, the moon will be emerging from Earth's shadow as it sets. In the Far West, the entire eclipse will be visible from start to finish. In Hawaii, totality will occur with the moon nearly overhead in the hours after midnight.

Concurrently, during their local evening hours, Central Asia and western Australia will observe the moon rising as it exits the shadow. Eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, much of Japan, and eastern Siberia will experience the full event during convenient evening times.

Safe Viewing

Unlike solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse is safe to watch without special eye protection.

While viewers can use their unaided eyes, binoculars or a telescope can offer an enhanced view, revealing more detail of the eclipsed moon.

Simulating the View: Observe on February 4

To aid in preparation, individuals can ascertain the moon's position in the sky during the eclipse by observing it on Wednesday, February 4. On that morning, the moon will be approximately two and a half days past full and will occupy a similar region of the sky as it will on March 3.

To simulate the eclipse view from March 3, observers should look for the moon on February 4 at a time two hours and eight minutes later than the scheduled eclipse stage.

For instance, in Salt Lake City, the moon is projected to begin entering Earth's dark central shadow (umbra) at 2:49 a.m. Mountain Time on March 3, positioned 44 degrees above the southwest horizon. To replicate this view on February 4, an observer would look for the moon at 4:57 a.m. (2:49 a.m. + 2 hours 8 minutes), where it would appear in a similar sky location.

Prediction Times for U.S. Time Zones (February 4 Observation)

The article provides corresponding observation times on February 4 to predict the moon's position during various eclipse stages on March 3 for different U.S. time zones:

• EST:
  • Eclipse Starts: 6:57 a.m.
  • Totality Starts: 8:11 a.m.
  • Mid-Eclipse: 8:41 a.m.
  • Totality Ends: 9:10 a.m.
  • Eclipse Ends: Not visible
• CST:
  • Eclipse Starts: 5:57 a.m.
  • Totality Starts: 7:11 a.m.
  • Mid-Eclipse: 7:41 a.m.
  • Totality Ends: 8:10 a.m.
  • Eclipse Ends: 9:25 a.m.
• MST:
  • Eclipse Starts: 4:57 a.m.
  • Totality Starts: 6:11 a.m.
  • Mid-Eclipse: 6:41 a.m.
  • Totality Ends: 7:10 a.m.
  • Eclipse Ends: 8:25 a.m.
• PST:
  • Eclipse Starts: 3:57 a.m.
  • Totality Starts: 5:11 a.m.
  • Mid-Eclipse: 5:41 a.m.
  • Totality Ends: 6:10 a.m.
  • Eclipse Ends: 7:25 a.m.

Eastern Time Zone: Westward Advantage

It is important to note that for those in the Eastern Time Zone, moving westward allows for a longer duration of the totally eclipsed moon before it sets. As an example, from Portland, Maine, the moon is expected to set only one minute after the start of totality. In contrast, from Indianapolis, Indiana (also observing Eastern Time but located 860 miles to the west), the entire total phase will be visible, with the moon not setting until five minutes after totality concludes.