Total Lunar Eclipse To Turn Moon Blood Red: How To Watch On LI

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Island residents planning to catch the total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, March 3, should plan on being awake before 4 a.m. Eastern Time to see the moon turn blood red.

During a total lunar eclipse, Earth moves between the sun and the moon and cuts off the moon’s light supply. When this happens, the surface of the moon takes on a reddish glow instead of going completely dark because of the way Earth’s atmosphere filters and bends sunlight.

The farther west, the better the views of the blood moon. Western North America will have the best, highest-in-the-sky views of the blood moon. On the eastern side of the country, deep-red totality occurs around 6:25 to 6:33 a.m., almost exactly at sunrise, when the moon will be very low on the western horizon.

Here are the times to know in Long Island (all times local):

• Penumbral eclipse begins at 3:44 a.m.: moon enters Earth’s outer shadow (subtle dimming)
• Partial eclipse begins at 4:50 a.m.: umbra starts covering the moon (a visible dark bite)
• Total eclipse begins at 6:04 a.m.: entire moon in Earth’s umbra (start of “blood moon”)
• Total eclipse ends at 7:02 a.m.: moon leaves umbra
• Partial eclipse ends at 8:17 a.m.
• The penumbral eclipse ends at 9:23 a.m.

NASA points out that as Earth's shadow dims the lunar surface, some constellations may be easier to see than they are usually during a full moon. At the time of the eclipse, the moon will be in the constellation Leo, under the lion’s hind paws.

Because the moon will set while still in totality at 6:24 a.m., finding a clear, unobstructed western horizon will be critical for the best views.

Wide-open waterfront locations are ideal. Montauk’s ocean beaches offer expansive sightlines with minimal obstruction, while Jones Beach State Park provides broad shoreline views facing west and southwest. On the North Fork, areas along the Sound with open western exposure can also provide excellent vantage points. Robert Moses State Park and Orient Beach State Park are additional strong options, thanks to their open beachfront landscapes.

In general, elevated areas, beaches, docks, and waterfront parks away from tall buildings and tree lines will give viewers the best chance to catch the moon’s deep red glow before it dips below the horizon.

Plan to arrive early so your eyes can adjust to the dark before totality begins. A pair of binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens can make the red hue stand out even more as the moon enters Earth’s shadow. Because the moon will be low in the western sky before sunrise, checking the forecast for clear conditions toward the west or southwest will be especially important.

No special glasses are required to view a lunar eclipse. Unlike a solar eclipse, it is completely safe to watch with the naked eye.

With no visible total lunar eclipses again until New Year’s Eve 2028, this early-morning event offers a rare opportunity for Long Islanders willing to set an alarm before dawn.

Whether you’ll be able to see the moon turn blood red depends on the weather, of course. Long Island’s seven-day outlook from the National Weather Service suggests mostly cloudy conditions with a chance of rain/snow on Tuesday (timing and cloud breaks still uncertain), so viewing success may hinge on short gaps in cloud cover.

Lunar eclipses only happen during full moons. March’s full moon is typically called the “worm moon.” The origin of the moniker is the subject of some debate, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. While the moniker was long thought to reference earthworms tunneling out of winter homes, historical research, notably by Captain Jonathan Carver in the 1760s, suggests the name referred to beetle larvae emerging from thawing tree bark and winter hiding places.

Related: 2026 Guide To Meteors, ‘Blood Moon,’ Supermoons And More Celestial Events