Bold claim: If you missed the total lunar eclipse, you missed a dazzling celestial spectacle—and the good news is you can still relive it through these stunning photos and a clear explanation of what happened. But here’s where it gets controversial: not everyone agrees on the best way to describe why the Moon glowed red, and some observers debate how widely the event was visible. Let’s make the science simple, expand a bit, and keep you in the loop.
Updated March 3, 2026, 12:50 p.m. ET
During the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday, March 3, the full Moon—March’s version, the Worm Moon—stepped into Earth’s shadow, producing a total lunar eclipse. Because it coincided with March’s full Moon, observers enjoyed a double feature: the eclipse plus the Moon’s traditional name for March.
Why does the Moon turn red? As the Sun and Moon align with Earth in between, Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching the Moon. However, some sunlight still passes through Earth’s atmosphere. In this filtered light, shorter blue wavelengths scatter away, while red wavelengths bend around the planet and strike the Moon. That reddish tint, often described as coppery or “blood Moon” glow, is what caused the dramatic color seen during the eclipse. (More on the phenomenon here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/03/01/total-lunar-eclipse-explainer/88905785007/)
Visibility stretched across much of North America and parts of Central Asia, with South America witnessing a partial eclipse. NASA notes that Europe and Africa did not have a view of this event.
If you weren’t awake early enough or simply missed it, these photographs capture the total lunar eclipse in all its striking detail.
See photos of the March full Moon and its total lunar eclipse
Julia Gomez serves as a Trending reporter for USA TODAY, covering popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok at @juliamariegz, or reach her by email at jgomez@gannett.com.
