'Blood Moon': Tonight's Total Lunar Eclipse Will Be The Last 'Til 2028

There will be a total lunar eclipse tonight (3 March) that’ll lead to a “blood moon”. 

This will see the moon turn a deep red or orange as the Earth interrupts some of the sun’s rays, usually reflected by the satellite. 

And it’s the last one we’re expected to get until 2028.

Why do total solar eclipses make the moon look red? 

Total solar eclipses can only happen during a full moon. They occur when the Earth is positioned directly between the sun and the moon. 

The “blood moon” occurs when the Earth’s “umbra”, or the shadow of its centre, covers the moon.

During this period, the light on the moon gets filtered through the Earth’s atmosphere. 

Shorter wavelengths, which create colours like blue, scatter more quickly than longer ones, like red and orange. 

That means redder hues show up on the moon’s surface during the eclipse.

The more dust in our atmosphere, the redder the moon will appear. 

Where can I see the blood moon? 

Unfortunately, it’s not going to be visible in the UK. 

Nor will it be seen from Africa or the rest of Europe. 

But America, parts of East Asia, the Pacific region, and Australia will see the event at its burgundy best. 

Though the actual eclipse will last just under an hour, the red effect is expected to stick around for much longer. 

There will be partial lunar eclipses long before 2028, however

OK, so we’ll have to wait a while for our next total solar eclipse. 

But partial solar eclipses, which occur when the moon is full but the Earth doesn’t sit perfectly between it and the sun, are a little more common. 

The next lunar eclipse is expected in late August 2026. 

Partial lunar eclipses can look different depending on your location. 

Speaking of which, more good news: the next partial lunar eclipse will be visible from the UK and Europe. 

And you don’t need any fancy tools to observe it – just head outside and look up.