Experience the Spectacular Blood Moon Over Central Florida: Date and Viewing Tips

ORLANDO, Fla. – Get ready for an amazing sight in the sky! Central Floridians can catch a total lunar eclipse soon. This event is often called a blood moon because the moon takes on a reddish-orange hue during totality.

Why does this happen? As the Earth casts its shadow on the moon, light from sunrises and sunsets on Earth reflects onto the moon, creating that beautiful color.

Mark your calendars for the early morning of March 14. The eclipse starts at 1:09 a.m. with a partial phase. During this time, Earth’s shadow will begin to darken the moon. As the eclipse progresses, you’ll see the moon slowly change to a deep red.

The total eclipse, when the moon is fully red, kicks off at 2:26 a.m. This stunning phase lasts until 3:31 a.m. After totality, the moon will gradually lose its red tint but will still appear dark until 4:47 a.m., when the partial eclipse ends.

You don’t need special glasses to watch this lunar eclipse—it’s perfectly safe to observe with your eyes. However, binoculars or a telescope can make the experience even better.

So, what causes a lunar eclipse? It occurs when the Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon. There are three types of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral. The total lunar eclipse on March 14 is the most impressive of the bunch.

Feel free to snap some photos and share them! You can send your pictures via PinIt!, and they may be featured on ClickOrlando.com or even on TV.