Aussies are in for a treat with a stunning Blood Moon rising in our skies on the night of March 2 to March 3 for the first lunar eclipse of 2026, and the only total one. The celestial event will be visible from the Americas, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia, so we’re truly getting a front row seat to one of the coolest astronomical phenomena of the year! Read on to find out more about what makes is so special and the best places to bask in it.
What is a Blood Moon?
As mentioned above, a Blood Moon is a total lunar eclipse, which happens when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface. During this phenomenon, the Moon takes on a red colour because the Earth’s atmosphere filters and bends sunlight, scattering shorter blue wavelengths and allowing the longer red wavelengths to pass through and illuminate the Moon, giving it a reddish glow. This astronomical event usually happens at least partially twice a year, but can occur up to four times.
This year we got extra lucky, not just because Australia will be one of the best places to see it, but also because this upcoming Blood Moon’s total phase — when it is at its most spectacular — will last quite long, almost half an hour: 29 minutes, approximately. And the full eclipse will go on for a whopping 5 hours and 49 minutes!
When to see the Blood Moon
The eclipse will start as early as 6:44pm on Tuesday, March 2 but, for the full effect, we recommend watching during the total eclipse phase, which will happen between 9:04pm and 10:02pm, when the Moon will be at its reddest and most breathtaking.
The next Blood Moon won’t happen until 2028, so this is truly not to be missed!
You can check moonrise, moonset and eclipse phase times for Brisbane here.
Where to see the Blood Moon?
You should be able to see this extraordinary Moon from almost anywhere, but it might be a bit trickier than usual if it’s cloudy and, of course, the further you get from the city, the more you’ll appreciate its glow.
So if you’re looking for the best viewing experience, we recommend heading out to a dark, clear location like the Mt Coot-tha Summit Lookout — although the light pollution coming from the city might still affect your viewing experience — or, if you don’t mind a bit of a longer drive, places like Wild Horse Mountain and Lake Moogerah offer expansive views of the night sky.
When are the next supermoons?
We may not know when the next Blood Moon is coming, but we still have a lunar occultation and this year’s supermoons, which will rise on the following dates, to look forward to:
December 23 — Cold Moon
November 2 — Lunar occultation
November 24 — Beaver Moon