February’s full moon may be gone, but the first lunar eclipse of 2026 is just a month away.
The worm moon, a “blood” full moon, will occur in early March, with partial visibility expected in Michigan, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The eclipse will reach totality in the early morning of March 3, coinciding with the full moon’s peak, though the moon will set during totality.
Here’s what to know about the worm moon:
When is the next lunar eclipse in Michigan?
The worm moon, which will feature a partial lunar eclipse, will peak at 6:38 a.m. March 3, 2026.
The total lunar eclipse will be visible from western North America, Australia, New Zealand and East Asia, with a “blood moon” appearing for 58 minutes, according to Space.com.
The blood moon phase will last from 6:04-7:02 a.m. on March 3. The moon will set during totality in the Eastern time zone.
What is a total lunar eclipse?
A total lunar eclipse is when the sun, Earth and moon align so the moon is covered by the Earth’s shadow, or umbra, NASA said.
Why is it called a ‘blood moon’?
You can expect the moon to take on a dramatic shade of red or orange in the night sky during the total lunar eclipse, leading it to be known as a “blood moon.” That’s because of how sunlight strikes the moon’s surface after passing through the atmosphere, NASA said.
As the moon is covered by the inner part of Earth’s shadow during the eclipse, sunlight not blocked by Earth is filtered through a thick slice of Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the moon’s surface, NASA explained.
Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange.
Where can you see the eclipse in Michigan?
For prime eclipse viewing, head to a clear, dark area at night, weather permitting. Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: When is first lunar eclipse of 2026? See timeline in Michigan
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
