Look Up: Do Not Miss The March 2025 “Blood Moon”

March 2025 will bring an opportunity for all of North American, including Indiana and Kentucky, as well as South America, Europe and Africa to witness a spectacular celestial event, a "Blood Moon," or total lunar eclipse!

What's in a (Full Moon) Name?

Full moons have different folk names depending on the month they occur. The names typically relate to things happening in nature at the time of the full moon. For example, June is when strawberries ripen, and that's why it is known as the Full Strawberry Moon. Likewise, in October we have the Full Hunter's Moon because October was when smaller game animals could be easily seen, and Native American tribes would begin to hunt and store meat for winter.

March Will Bring a Full Worm Moon

Known as the Worm Moon because March is typically when much of America sees the spring thaw - a time when early signs of life, like the movement of worms and beetles, begin to occur, according to Farmers Almanac.

Other names for the full Moon in March include, "Snow Crust Moon," "Sore Eye Moon," Wind Moon," and "Sap Moon." Each of these names coming from various tribes that occupied that lands.

 A Full Moon and a Total Lunar Eclipse

Not only will we be seeing a Full Worm Moon, in March, but we can add to it a full lunar eclipse visible across North and South America, as well as Europe and Africa. A total lunar eclipse will create a phenomenon known as a "blood moon."

What Exactly is a Blood Moon?

We experience a lunar eclipse when the moon, the Earth, and the sun are in proper alignment, with the Earth's shadow cast upon the face of the moon. When this happens, a reddish glow seems to emanate from the moon. This phenomenon is known as a "blood moon."

READ MORE: 2025 Dates to See Ultra Rare Moonbow in Kentucky

Why Does The Moon Turn Red During a Lunar Eclipse?

At the point of totality during a lunar eclipse, we will see the "blood moon." but what exactly causes the moon to look red? The moon blazes red in the sky for the same reason that we see sunrises and sunsets in various hues and why the sky looks blue. It is something known as Rayleigh scattering. Check out the video below. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explains Rayleigh scattering.

How to Safely Watch a Total Lunar Eclipse

To view the lunar eclipse safely, all you really have to do is look up to the night sky. You won't need any special type of equipment to view the lunar eclipse but if you would like to see the moon in more detail, a pair of binoculars or a telescope will do the trick. Unlike a solar eclipse, there is no need for safety glasses for viewing a lunar eclipse.

When Will the Total Lunar Eclipse Take Place?

The total lunar eclipse will begin Thursday, March 13, 2024, and continue into Friday, March 14, 2025. For those of us in the Central Time Zone, the eclipse will progress through the following phases, according to timeanddate.com.

• March 13th: at 10:57 pm - Penumbral Eclipse begins
• March 14th: 12:09 am - Partial Eclipse begins
• March 14th: 1:26 am - Total Eclipse begins
• March 14th: 1:58 am - Maximum Eclipse
• March 14th: 2:31 am - Total Eclipse ends
• March 14th: 3:47 am - Partial Eclipse ends
• March 14th: 5:00 am - Penumbral Eclipse ends

How to Take Photos of a Total Lunar Eclipse

If you are as fascinated by the beauty of the moon as I am, you have inevitably tried (and failed) more than once to snap a photo of the moon with your smartphone. The upcoming lunar eclipse will have you reaching for your phone but how do you get a great moon photo? Check out the video below to see how to best capture the beauty of the eclipse, or any other time you want to snap a photo of the moon. Then be sure you keep scrolling to see some amazing astrophotography.