Next Blood Moon Visible In US: When And Where To Watch
Next Blood Moon Visible In US: When And Where To Watch...
Americans are searching for details about the next blood moon as celestial events continue to captivate skywatchers. The phenomenon, which turns the moon a striking reddish hue during a total lunar eclipse, last occurred in November 2022 and won't be fully visible across the continental US again until March 2026.
NASA confirms the next total lunar eclipse creating a blood moon will occur on March 14, 2026. While partial phases will be visible across North America, the best viewing for the total eclipse will be in Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of the western continental US near moonset. The eclipse will begin at 12:52 AM EST and reach totality around 3:57 AM EST.
The blood moon effect happens when Earth's atmosphere filters sunlight, bending red wavelengths onto the moon's surface during eclipse totality. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye, making them popular public events. Astronomy clubs and NASA often host viewing parties for these occasions.
Interest spikes today after a viral social media post confused the 2026 event with an imminent occurrence. Major planetariums, including Chicago's Adler Planetarium and Los Angeles' Griffith Observatory, reported increased inquiries about viewing opportunities this week. Google Trends data shows searches for "blood moon" up 320% in the past 24 hours across US regions.
For those planning ahead, the March 2026 eclipse will be followed by another US-visible blood moon on September 7, 2025, though that event will only be partially visible from eastern states. NASA maintains an eclipse tracker with interactive maps at science.nasa.gov for precise local timing.
Night sky photographers recommend scouting elevated locations with clear eastern horizons for the 2026 event, as the moon will be low in the sky during totality. Unlike the brief 2024 solar eclipse, lunar eclipses provide hours of observable phenomena, with the blood moon phase lasting about 12 minutes in 2026.
