A blood moon and a lunar eclipse will be visible in Ohio. Here are the details
A total lunar eclipse will give the full moon a flush of red, making this rare phenomenon the first since 2022, and will kick off a series of eclipses over the next two years.
Lunar eclipses happen when the moon, Earth and sun align just so. The Earth casts a shadow that can partially or totally blot out the moon, according to PBS News.
Overnight and into the early morning hours of Thursday and Friday, March 13 and 14, skywatchers worldwide are in for a celestial wonder.
The “Blood Moon” is a rare phenomenon that bathes the full moon in an eerie red glow caused by Earth’s shadow.
How did it get its name?
The name “Worm Moon” was first documented in the 1760s by Captain Jonathan Carver, a mapmaker and explorer who attributed the name to Native People such as the Dakota (Naudowessie).
They used the term to describe the March full moon, which signaled the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. According to his writings, the name referred to beetle larvae (mistakenly called “worms”) emerging from thawing tree bark as winter ended and spring began.
Many cultures have lore to explain the occurrence of a red moon. In Judeo-Christian mythology, the term “Blood Moon” has its origin in the Book of Joel, which mentions the moon turning into blood as a sign before a significant event. This year, the Blood Moon falls on the Jewish holiday, Purim.
The Incas believed the deep red coloration of the moon was a jaguar attacking and devouring the Earth. They feared the jaguar would turn its attention to Earth and the people after attacking the moon, and had rituals to “scare” the jaguar away.
When and where to watch
The blood moon will be visible in Georgia for about an hour Friday morning, and no special equipment is needed— just look up.
It will help if you have a clear, dark sky away from city lights, and even better if you want to use binoculars or a telescope to enhance the view.
It begins at 2:26 a.m.
The maximum eclipse, when the moon is closest to the center of Earth’s shadow, occurs at 2:58 a.m.
The total eclipse ends at 3:31 a.m.
What’s so special about this full moon?
A Blood Moon is the result of a process called Rayleigh scattering, which refers to “the scattering of light off of the molecules of the air. The more dust or clouds in the atmosphere, the redder the moon appears.”
This Blood Moon of 2025 is the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022 and kicks off a series of eclipses over the next two years.
When is the next eclipse?
This series of eclipses is part of a tetrad, which includes three total lunar eclipses and one partial lunar eclipse.
The upcoming dates are:
Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (total)
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 (total)
Friday, Aug. 28, 2026 (partial)
Do you have special watch parties planned for eclipse viewing? Send me your snaps at me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on Instagram.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM with the headline "A blood moon and a lunar eclipse will be visible in Ohio. Here are the details."
