A rare blood moon lunar eclipse will appear over Ohio soon. Here’s when, how best to watch

A rare total lunar eclipse and blood moon is coming to the Ohio sky, and we’re in the right place at the right time for this event. On the morning of Tuesday, March 3, the moon will pass through Earth’s shadow and turn a deep, rusty red in a total lunar eclipse.

It’s a free show that requires no special equipment, no eclipse glasses, and no real travel. Just a clear sky and a willingness to set an alarm.

This is not a normal eclipse

Blood moon

According to the Time and Date utility and reference site, the term “blood moon” is not necessarily scientific but is commonly used to view celestial phenomena.

• Total lunar eclipse: when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon and its shadow covers the moon
• Lunar tetrad: four total lunar eclipses within about two years, spaced roughly six months apart.
• Full moon in October: also known as the Hunter’s Moon, Drying Rice Moon, and sometimes Sanguine Moon

It’s rare because:

• Last total lunar eclipse visible from the U.S. until 2028
• Part of a back-to-back-to-back sequence of three total lunar eclipses in a row
• It’s what scientists call an “almost tetrad”
• Moon won’t go dark, it will go red

How to enjoy the eclipse

For this eclipse, you don’t need a telescope or special glasses to watch, but binoculars or a telescope could give you a better view of the details.

When to watch:

The best window for Youngstown viewers is roughly 5 to 6:30 a.m., when the partial phase deepens and totality kicks in.

• 3:44 a.m. - Eclipse begins (moon enters outer shadow; won’t look different yet)
• 4:50 a.m. - Partial eclipse begins; you’ll start to see Earth’s shadow creeping across the moon
• 6:04 a.m. - Totality begins; the moon turns red
• 6:33 a.m. - Maximum eclipse (peak blood moon color)
• 7:02 a.m. - Totality ends, but the moon will be at or below the horizon by this point

Best spot for a good view:

The moon will be low on the horizon, so trees and buildings will work against you, and the further west you drive the better your odds of catching more of totality before the moon sets.

Find spots with clear, unobstructed views of the western sky, like an open field, west-facing parking lot, or a spot along the river with a clear sight line.

Skywatching tips:

• Check the forecast for clouds the night before.
• Let your eyes adjust to the dark for 10-15 minutes before the main event
• Binoculars will sharpen the view considerably
• Dress warmly, it will be chilly

Livestream the Blood Moon

If you can’t get outside or would just rather sit on your couch in warmth, you can watch a livestream of the eclipse.

Graham Jones and Anne Buckle will host on the Time and Date site, and be joined by Preethi Krishnamoorthy and Avinash Surendran, from Hawaii, with other feeds from Perth Observatory in Australia and the website’s mobile observatory near Los Angeles.

Tune in to the livestream between 3:44 am and 7:07 am on Tuesday, March 3.

The March 3 total lunar eclipse is the third in a string of three back-to-back blood moons, following eclipses in March and September 2025. After this one, the next total lunar eclipse visible from North America won’t come until New Year’s Eve 2028.

Where will you be watching? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.

This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "A rare blood moon lunar eclipse will appear over Ohio soon. Here’s when, how best to watch."