Blood Moon total lunar eclipse wows stargazers across North and South America

On March 14^th 2025, observers in North and South America were treated to a 'blood Moon' total lunar eclipse, when the full Moon turned rusty red.

Lunar eclipses happen when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, with Earth’s shadow cast on to the lunar surface.

Here are some of the best images we've seen of the March 14, 2025 blood Moon.

Find out more in our complete guide to the 14 March lunar eclipse.

Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is filtered, so when it hits the Moon, the Moon appears red.

Many call a total lunar eclipse a ‘blood Moon’. ‘Totality’ – the point of maximum eclipse – will happen when the Moon is high in the sky.

The full Moon will be located between Leo and Virgo, and it’ll very obvious to the naked eye.

Key timings for the March 14 lunar eclipse

A lunar eclipse starts with a subtle, ‘penumbral’ part, which sees Earth’s shadow begin to cross the surface of the Moon.

This begans at the following times:

• 20:57 PDT (March 13^th)
• 21:57 MDT (March 13^th)
• 22:57 CDT (March 13^th)
• 23:57 EDT (March 13^th)

The penumbral shadow is hardly noticeable at first, but it becomes more obvious in the southeast portion of the Moon.

Just after this, the darker, coloured ‘umbral’ part of the shadow appears.

This happened at the following times:

• 22:10 PDT (March 13^th)
• 23:10 MDT (March 13^th)
• 00:10 CDT (March 14^th)
• 01:10 EDT (March 14^th)

Located high in the sky for the eastern half of the US, and lower but still well-positioned from the western half, the eclipse continued until totality was reached at the following times:

• 23:26 PDT (March 13^th)
• 00:26 MDT (March 14^th)
• 01:26 CDT (March 14^th)
• 02:26 EDT (March 14^th)

Observing a lunar eclipse

During a solar eclipse, when the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon, eclipse glasses must be worn.

But during a lunar eclipse, which is what's taking place this week, no eclipse glasses are necessary.

What you will see, is that during totality, the Moon will appear dimmer and redder.

If you have a pair of binoculars or a telescope, use them to get a closer look at the lunar surface and observe the subtleties of the Moon changing colour.

You could even photograph the lunar eclipse.

If you observed or photographed the March 14 lunar eclipse, let us know by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com