Blood Moon Lights Up South Florida Sky

Celestial event visible across North, Central and South America

Mar. 3, 2026 at 11:03pm

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A rare blood red moon was visible in the skies over South Florida and across the Americas early Tuesday morning. The eclipse occurred when the sun, moon, and Earth aligned, causing the moon to appear red due to sunlight filtering through the Earth's atmosphere.

Why it matters

Lunar eclipses are relatively rare, with the last one occurring in 2025 and the next one not expected until late 2028. These celestial events captivate stargazers and provide an opportunity to learn more about the dynamics of the Earth, moon, and sun.

The details

The blood moon was caused by the Earth passing directly between the sun and moon, blocking direct sunlight and instead casting a reddish glow on the lunar surface from sunlight refracting through the Earth's atmosphere. This phenomenon is known as a total lunar eclipse.

  • The eclipse occurred early Tuesday morning, March 3, 2026.

The players

Earth

The planet that passed directly between the sun and moon, causing the lunar eclipse.

Sun

The star that provided the sunlight that was refracted through the Earth's atmosphere and cast a reddish glow on the moon.

Moon

The celestial body that appeared red during the total lunar eclipse.

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What’s next

Another total lunar eclipse is not expected to occur until late 2028, providing stargazers a rare opportunity to witness this celestial event.

The takeaway

Lunar eclipses are captivating natural phenomena that occur when the Earth, sun, and moon align in a specific way. These events offer a chance for people to marvel at the dynamics of our solar system and learn more about the mechanics behind eclipses.