Lunar Eclipse 2026: Why the Moon will appear red

According to the BBC, on 3 March 2026, skywatchers across several parts of the world will witness a total lunar eclipse — a striking astronomical event that can turn the Moon a deep shade of red.

Often called a “Blood Moon,” this phenomenon occurs when the Moon takes on a reddish glow during the eclipse.

The event will not be visible from the UK, Europe or Africa. Instead, the clearest views are expected in North America, the Pacific region, Australia and parts of East Asia.

What causes a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse happens because of the way the Sun, Earth and Moon move in space. The Moon travels around the Earth, while the Earth orbits the Sun. At certain moments, these three bodies align in a straight line.

We always see the same side of the Moon because it rotates on its axis in the same amount of time it takes to orbit the Earth — approximately 27 days. This synchronized movement keeps one face permanently turned toward our planet.

A total lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth positions itself directly between the Sun and the Moon. As a result, the Earth blocks sunlight and its shadow falls across the Moon’s surface.

This alignment can only occur during a full Moon, when the Moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. If only a portion of the Moon passes into Earth’s shadow, the event is known as a partial lunar eclipse.

This should not be confused with normal lunar phases — such as crescent or half Moon — which simply reflect how much of the Moon’s surface is illuminated by the Sun at a given time.

Why does the Moon turn red?

Unlike a solar eclipse, where the Sun appears darkened, the Moon remains visible during a total lunar eclipse. Instead of disappearing, it glows in shades of red or orange.

The reason lies in Earth’s atmosphere. As sunlight travels through the atmosphere, shorter blue wavelengths are scattered in different directions — the same process that makes the sky look blue. Meanwhile, red and orange wavelengths pass through more easily.

This filtered reddish light bends around the Earth and reaches the Moon, giving it a copper-coloured appearance in the night sky.