By — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Associated Press Adithi Ramakrishnan, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/a-total-lunar-eclipse-to-turn-the-moon-blood-red-on-tuesday-across-many-continents Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A total lunar eclipse to turn the moon blood red on Tuesday across many continents Science Feb 27, 2026 11:11 AM EST NEW YORK (AP) — A blood-red moon will soon grace the skies for a total lunar eclipse — and there won't be another until late 2028. WATCH: The super blue blood moon makes first appearance since 1866 The spectacle will be visible Tuesday morning from North America, Central America and the western part of South America. Australia and eastern Asia can catch it Tuesday night. Partial stages of the eclipse with small bites taken out of the moon can be seen from Central Asia and much of South America. Africa and Europe will be shut out. Grow your mind Subscribe to our Science Newsletter to explore the wide worlds of science, health and technology. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Solar and lunar eclipses happen due to a precise alignment of the sun, moon and Earth. There are between four and seven a year, according to NASA. The eclipses tend to follow each other, taking advantage of the sweet spot in the celestial bodies' orbits. Tuesday's total eclipse of the moon comes two weeks after a 'ring of fire' solar eclipse that dazzled people and penguins in Antarctica. READ MORE: Astronauts get first look at the Artemis II spacecraft that will fly them around the moon During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth is between the sun and full moon, casting a shadow that covers the moon. The so-called blood moon looks red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere. The show unfolds over several hours, with totality lasting about an hour. Compared to a solar eclipse, "the lunar eclipse is a little more of a relaxed pace," said Catherine Miller at Middlebury College's Mittelman Observatory. READ MORE: A look at the first artificial solar eclipses created by two European satellites For those in the path, there's no need for any special equipment to observe — just a clear, cloudless view of the sky. Use a forecasting app or any online celestial calendar to look up the exact timing for your area. Venture outside a few times to see Earth's shadow darken the moon, eventually revealing the reddish-orange orb. "You don't have to be out there the whole time to see the shadows moving," said astronomer Bennett Maruca with the University of Delaware. There's a partial lunar eclipse on the docket for August, visible across the Americas, Europe, Africa and west Asia. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Associated Press Adithi Ramakrishnan, Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — A blood-red moon will soon grace the skies for a total lunar eclipse — and there won't be another until late 2028. WATCH: The super blue blood moon makes first appearance since 1866 The spectacle will be visible Tuesday morning from North America, Central America and the western part of South America. Australia and eastern Asia can catch it Tuesday night. Partial stages of the eclipse with small bites taken out of the moon can be seen from Central Asia and much of South America. Africa and Europe will be shut out. Grow your mind Subscribe to our Science Newsletter to explore the wide worlds of science, health and technology. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Solar and lunar eclipses happen due to a precise alignment of the sun, moon and Earth. There are between four and seven a year, according to NASA. The eclipses tend to follow each other, taking advantage of the sweet spot in the celestial bodies' orbits. Tuesday's total eclipse of the moon comes two weeks after a 'ring of fire' solar eclipse that dazzled people and penguins in Antarctica. READ MORE: Astronauts get first look at the Artemis II spacecraft that will fly them around the moon During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth is between the sun and full moon, casting a shadow that covers the moon. The so-called blood moon looks red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere. The show unfolds over several hours, with totality lasting about an hour. Compared to a solar eclipse, "the lunar eclipse is a little more of a relaxed pace," said Catherine Miller at Middlebury College's Mittelman Observatory. READ MORE: A look at the first artificial solar eclipses created by two European satellites For those in the path, there's no need for any special equipment to observe — just a clear, cloudless view of the sky. Use a forecasting app or any online celestial calendar to look up the exact timing for your area. Venture outside a few times to see Earth's shadow darken the moon, eventually revealing the reddish-orange orb. "You don't have to be out there the whole time to see the shadows moving," said astronomer Bennett Maruca with the University of Delaware. There's a partial lunar eclipse on the docket for August, visible across the Americas, Europe, Africa and west Asia. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now