A total lunar eclipse, commonly referred to as the Blood Moon, is set to occur on March 14, 2025, and will be visible across the Americas. Unfortunately, this celestial event will not be visible from India.
The next total lunar eclipse that can be seen in India will take place later in the year, on September 7-8, 2025.
During the March 14 eclipse, the Moon will take on a reddish hue as it passes through Earth’s shadow. This phenomenon occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, filtering out shorter wavelengths of light and casting a deep red glow on the lunar surface.
Although this event promises to be visually stunning, it will not be visible in India due to its timing, which coincides with daylight hours in the country.
The eclipse will start at 9:27 am IST, reach its peak at 12:28 pm IST, and conclude by 3:30 pm IST. Since the Moon will be below the horizon during this period, observers in India will not be able to witness the event directly.
However, astronomy enthusiasts in India can still experience the lunar eclipse through live streams available on various social media platforms, which will broadcast the event in real time.
For those in the Americas, the eclipse will be particularly prominent. The total phase will last over 65 minutes, offering a spectacular sight to sky-watchers.
The event will begin at 11:57 pm EDT on March 13, 2025, and end at 6:00 am EDT on March 14. As reported by the Times of India, the total eclipse phase will take place between 2:26 am and 3:31 am EDT (06:26 to 07:31 UTC).
During this time, the Moon will take on its characteristic red tint, making it a remarkable celestial display.
Apart from North and South America, certain regions of Europe will witness the eclipse at moonset, while parts of East Asia will observe it at moonrise.
Australia and some areas of Africa will also have an opportunity to see the eclipse.
While this particular event will not be visible in India, sky-watchers in the country can look forward to the next total lunar eclipse on September 7-8, 2025, which will be observable nationwide without the limitations of daylight.
This upcoming total lunar eclipse is part of a series known as a tetrad, which consists of four consecutive total lunar eclipses. The subsequent eclipses after March 14, 2025, are scheduled for September 8, 2025, March 3, 2026, and August 28, 2026.
With more such astronomical events lined up, stargazers will have ample opportunities to witness these breathtaking celestial phenomena in the coming years.
