A “blood moon” total lunar eclipse will take place late Thursday, offering a stunning sight as the moon turns deep red during the over-hour-long totality. This eclipse will be visible across North America, South America, and parts of Europe and Africa on the night of March 13-14. The next total lunar eclipse visible in the U.S. won’t occur until March 2026.

Total lunar eclipses are often called “blood moons” because of the reddish hue the moon takes on when it passes through Earth’s shadow. During the eclipse, Earth’s shadow will cover the moon completely in the center, a process that takes up to 3 hours and 38 minutes. The totality phase, where the moon is fully covered, will last about 65 minutes.

A lunar eclipse happens when Earth aligns perfectly between the moon and the sun, blocking sunlight from directly reaching the moon. The moon appears darker as it is lit only by light from Earth’s atmosphere, which can give it a reddish tint from Earth’s sunsets and sunrises.