Total lunar eclipse 2025: Where and when to watch as per USA time zones ET (ET, PT, CT and more)

The moon in March is not in her usual pearly white/silvery avatar. Rather, it’s going to be striking rusty red.
Why? Because it’s time for the lunar eclipse, which in turn will bring the blood moon out in the night sky.

A ‘blood moon’ is a popular term for a total lunar eclipse when the moon appears red or ruddy brown in color.
A total lunar eclipse is coming to Earth for the first time since 2022. On the night of March 13-14, 2025, North America and South America will get a great view of all phases of a ‘blood moon’.
On that night, the moon will appear to us here on Earth to turn a striking rusty-red color when it aligns with our planet and the sun. When this happens, the moon passes into Earth's shadow in a color-shifting process that lends it the nickname, ‘blood moon’.

According to Timeanddate.com, the lunar eclipse will happen in five stages between 11:57 p.m. and 6 a.m. EDT (03:57 to 10:00 UTC).

The first stage begins when the moon moves into Earth's fuzzy outer shadow, its penumbra, and loses its brightness. It then enters the umbra and gradually turns reddish as the line of Earth's shadow moves across the moon.
According to NASA, if you live in the U.S., you can see the eclipse starting at about 11:57 p.m. EST when the penumbral phase begins as the moon enters the outer part of the shadow and begins to subtly dim.
At 1:09 a.m., a partial eclipse begins as the moon enters Earth's umbra and starts to darken. To the naked eye, the moon should look like a bite is being taken out of the lunar disk.
What you don’t want to miss is the phase of totality when the entire lunar surface appears reddish, becoming a true blood moon. Halfway through that 65-minute period, the event starts to run in reverse, with the moon gradually slipping out of Earth's umbra, then penumbra, before finally returning to its regular bright, white-gray color.
Totality occurs at 2:26 a.m. when the entire moon is under the umbra. This is when the reddish hues of the "blood moon" will be on display.
As the moon exits the umbra by about 3:31 a.m., the red color will fade, and another bite-like display, this time on the other side of the moon, will appear. As NASA explains, the entire eclipse process is projected to end by 6 a.m. as the moon slowly exits the Earth's penumbra.

There are actually six time zones in the USA. The four main ones are Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Standard Time. The two others are Alaska Standard Time and Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time, observed only by Alaska and Hawaii respectively.

Eastern Time (EDT): Penumbral phase began at 11:57 PM on March 13, partial at 1:09 AM on March 14, totality at 2:26 AM, and partial at 3:31 AM. There are 22 states in the Eastern time zone: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, North Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Indiana and Kentucky that can witness the blood moon at that time.
Central Time (CDT): Penumbral phase began at 10:57 PM on March 13, partial at 12:09 AM on March 14, totality at 1:26 AM, and partial at 2:31 AM. States like Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin can witness the celestial wonder at the mentioned time.
Mountain Time (MDT): The Mountain Time Zone is mainly observed in the western part of North America. It encompasses several US states, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Penumbral phase began at 9:57 PM on March 13, partial at 11:09 PM on March 14, totality at 12:26 AM, and partial at 1:31 AM.
Pacific Time (PDT): It covers the western region of the country: California, Washington, part of Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. This time zone also covers parts of Mexico and Canada. Penumbral phase began at 8:57 PM on March 13, partial at 10:09 PM on March 14, totality at 11:26 PM, and partial at 12:31 AM on March 14, 2025.
Alaska time zone: The penumbral phase begins at 7:57 p.m. AKDT on March 13, partial at 9:09 p.m. AKDT, totality at 10:26 p.m. AKDT, partial at 11:31 p.m. EDT and penumbral at 12:47 a.m. AKDT on March 14. The eclipse ends at 2 a.m. AKDT.
Hawaii time zone: The penumbral phase is already underway when the moon rises at 6:32 p.m. HST on March 13, partial at 7:09 p.m. HST, totality at 8:26 p.m. HST, partial at 9:31 p.m. HST and penumbral at 10:47 p.m. HST. The eclipse ends at midnight HST.

For this eclipse, the Western Hemisphere will be treated to the view, including all of North America. For those in the United States, that means all lower 48 states should have a view. The total lunar eclipse will also be visible over South America and western parts of Europe and Africa.

Los Angeles, United States—West Coast: Thanks to its clear skies and minimal light pollution, Los Angeles is a great place to see the Blood Moon. Whether you're viewing the eclipse from the city itself or from the surrounding hills, the West Coast offers some of the best conditions for the event, ensuring you have a remarkable experience.
Mexico (Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta): With locations like Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán offering stunning coastal views, Mexico's Pacific coast is an excellent destination to witness the lunar eclipse. Imagine watching the Blood Moon rise against the ocean—it's truly a dream come true for skywatchers.
Mendoza, Argentina: Mendoza, located in the heart of Argentina's wine region, is an ideal spot for stargazing due to its clear skies and peaceful surroundings. The flat, dry terrain ensures an unobstructed view of the Blood Moon, making it the perfect place to witness this rare celestial event.
Chile's Atacama Desert: Renowned worldwide for its pure air and cloudless skies, the Atacama Desert offers some of the best stargazing conditions on Earth. The high altitude and low light pollution make it one of the top locations to view the lunar eclipse in March 2025.
Madrid, Spain: Madrid offers excellent viewing conditions for the lunar eclipse, especially from the western part of the city. While Europe will only see a partial view of the moonset, Madrid provides a fantastic vantage point to experience the spectacle framed by the city’s stunning architecture.
Lisbon, Portugal: Lisbon, located on Europe’s western coast, provides a breathtaking view of the Blood Moon, particularly at moonset. With its mild March weather and coastal setting, Lisbon is the perfect destination for those wishing to witness this celestial wonder.
Cairo, Egypt: Cairo offers a unique vantage point and is perfectly positioned for observing the lunar eclipse. Any skywatcher visiting Egypt's historical sites will be inspired by the view as the moon moves across Earth's shadow.
Cape Town, South Africa: Cape Town is another amazing location to witness the Blood Moon. With its clear air and low light pollution, stargazing here is ideal. Watching the eclipse over South Africa's rugged landscapes promises to be both a serene and awe-inspiring experience.
The recent “blood moon” eclipse shares a striking resemblance to one that occurred on February 29–March 1, 1504, when Christopher Columbus used his astronomical knowledge to manipulate the indigenous Arawak people. Stranded in Jamaica, Columbus predicted the lunar eclipse and convinced the locals that their gods were angry, persuading them to provide supplies for his crew. What makes this connection even more fascinating is that the 2025 eclipse occurred exactly one hypersaros cycle—521 years—after the 1504 event, with nearly identical characteristics in depth, position, and timing, making it a rare celestial repetition.