A total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026, will be visible in the Philippines, with nearly an hour of totality and a striking red “blood moon.” (Image by freepik)
Social media feeds are expected to glow red on March 3, 2026, as Filipinos gear up to share photos and videos of a rare “blood moon” during a total lunar eclipse visible across the country.
The eclipse will see the Moon completely covered by Earth’s shadow for 59 minutes and 24 seconds, Nathaniel Servando, administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in a statement, said. Totality begins at 7:04 pm, reaches its maximum at 7:34 pm, and ends at 8:03 pm, according to astronomical projections.
The so-called “blood moon” happens when Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface. As sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue wavelengths scatter while red light bends and reaches the Moon, giving it a coppery or reddish glow.
In Manila, the Moon will rise at 5:58 pm already partially eclipsed. It will remain within Earth’s umbral, or primary shadow, until 9:17 pm, and will fully exit the penumbral shadow by 10:25 pm.
The total lunar eclipse will also be completely visible over Eastern Asia, Australia, the Central Pacific, and most of the Americas.
Weather permitting, astronomy groups are urging the public to look up and document the celestial event online. Unlike solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse is safe to watch with the naked eye. While binoculars can enhance details on the Moon’s surface, no special equipment or protective eyewear is required.
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