March 2026 Skywatching: Blood Moon, Venus–Saturn Conjunction, Vernal Equinox

This March, skywatchers can expect a total lunar eclipse — a blood moon — a close pairing of Venus and Saturn, and the vernal equinox. On March 3, a total lunar eclipse will turn the Moon bright red. A lunar eclipse happens during a full Moon when Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface; when Sun, Earth, and Moon line up exactly, the Moon is completely enveloped in Earth’s shadow.

Rather than disappearing, the Moon takes on an orange-reddish hue because Earth’s atmosphere scatters sunlight and illuminates the lunar surface. This full lunar eclipse will be visible from eastern Asia and Australia in the evening, from the Pacific at night, and from most of North and Central America as well as western South America in the early morning.

On March 8, Venus and Saturn will appear close together in the evening sky, separated by about one degree — roughly the width of a single finger at arm’s length.

lunar eclipse, blood moon, venus saturn, vernal equinox, march 3, march 8, eastern asia, australia, north america, pacific