Rare total lunar eclipse to dazzle stargazers March 13: times, where to watch in California

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10-03-2025

The only total lunar eclipse visible in the U.S. this year is set for the night of March 13.
Lunar eclipses occur when Earth is positioned precisely between the Moon and Sun at the full moon phase, according to NASA. During this time, Earth's shadow falls upon the surface of the Moon and dims it. Sometimes, the eclipse turns the lunar surface red for a few hours.
In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth's shadow, called the umbra, according to NASA. When the Moon is within the umbra, it appears red-orange and lunar eclipses are sometimes called 'Blood Moons' because of this phenomenon.
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Here is NASA's timeline for the total lunar eclipse:
8:57 p.m. PST March 13: The Moon enters the Earth's penumbra, the outer part of the shadow. The Moon begins to dim, but the effect is subtle.
10:09 p.m.: The Moon begins to enter Earth's umbra and partial eclipse begins. As the Moon moves into the umbra, it looks like a bite is being taken out of the lunar disk. The part of the Moon inside the umbra appears very dark.
11:26 p.m.: The entire Moon is now in the Earth's umbra and the Moon is tinted a coppery red.
12:31 a.m. March 14: As the Moon exits Earth's umbra, the red color fades and it looks as if a bite is being taken out of the opposite side of the lunar disk from before.
3 a.m.: The eclipse is over.
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon appears red because of how sunlight strikes the moon's surface after passing through the atmosphere, according to NASA.
Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange, writes NASA. The more dust or clouds in Earth's atmosphere during a lunar eclipse, the redder the moon appears.
To find the best places to stargaze in California, locate the darkest sky possible away from city lights to make the most of the shooting star show.
The National Parks Conservation Association has designated Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks in Southern California as Certified Dark-Sky Parks.
Dark Sky International also recommends Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, and Julian as places to see the meteor light shows.
In Central California, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Yosemite National Park are good places to see celestial light shows.
Shasta, Siskiyou, and other North State counties offer excellent places to view the night sky. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is also a prime night sky-watching location on the North State coast.
After 2025, the next total lunar eclipse in North America will be on March 3, 2026.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at [e-mail], 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Lunar eclipse on March 13: how to see celestial wonder in California