Near-total 'blood moon' lunar eclipse to grace U.S. skies Thursday
A near-total lunar eclipse will be visible across the United States on Thursday night, with 96.2% of the moon entering Earth's shadow at peak. The event, known as a blood moon due to the reddish-orange hue, will be best seen in the continental U.S. Unlike solar eclipses, it can be viewed safely with the naked eye.
The eclipse unfolds over roughly five and a half hours, beginning when the moon enters Earth's faint outer shadow at 9:23 p.m. ET. The more dramatic phase starts about 70 minutes later, when the dark inner shadow visibly consumes the lunar disk, culminating at 12:12 a.m. ET with 96.2% coverage before fading by 3:01 a.m. ET.
This event pairs with the total solar eclipse seen two weeks ago in southern Europe, a rhythm driven by celestial geometry: the sun sits roughly 400 times farther away than the moon yet is also about 400 times larger, making both appear similar in size from Earth. Upcoming events include a solar eclipse on Feb. 6 and a lunar eclipse on Feb. 20-21.
This event could draw casual skywatchers and families outdoors on a weeknight, offering an accessible entry point to astronomy since no eye protection is needed. It may also boost public interest in upcoming celestial events, potentially increasing attendance at local observatory programs or science centers. The widespread visibility across the continental U.S. could generate shared social media moments, though weather conditions will ultimately determine how many people actually experience it.