Astronomers will be able to observe the blood moon when Earth’s shadow completely covers the full moon, scattering light through our atmosphere and turning the lunar surface dark red or coppery brown. This will provide a spectacular view of the striking eclipse of the Blood Moon, which skywatchers have been waiting for for so long.
What is a blood moon
It is called a blood moon because during a total lunar eclipse, Earth’s atmosphere filters sunlight and scatters blue light while casting a red or copper moon glow on the moon. It has been observed that almost 29% of all lunar eclipses are total lunar eclipses. Earth mainly experiences two lunar eclipses per year.
Blood Moon 2026
The next blood moon will occur in March 2026. It will be visible to skywatchers across North America and will mark the last total lunar eclipse on Earth until the following year.
The exact hue of a blood moon depends on atmospheric conditions; a combination of volcanic ash, wildfire smoke and dust can make it darker and more intense. According to NASA, two to four lunar eclipses occur each year, each visible from about half the planet.
