The last time a lunar eclipse was visible in North Carolina was in November of 2022.
We're looking forward to the next one that will be visible in the overnight hours from March 13 to March 14.
Other WRAL Top Stories
We'll get to the exact timing in a bit, but let's first talk about what a lunar eclipse is and what some of the stages look like.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse happens when the earth is directly in between the sun and the moon. The moon's surface acts like the screen of a projector. Onto it, all of Earth's sunsets are projected. That's the red hue you'll see during the total lunar eclipse.
Below is what it looked like in November of 2022.
What are the stages of a lunar eclipse?
The earth has a soft shadow (grey), which is called the penumbra. It has a hard shadow (red), which is called the umbra.
A partial eclipse is when the earth's umbra covers part of the moon. A total lunar eclipse is when the moon is fully engulfed within the umbra, and some will call it a "blood moon."
How will the March 14, 2025 lunar eclipse play out?
It will not happen at the most ideal time for most people.
The partial eclipse begins at 1:09 a.m. EDT on Friday, March 14. This is when the moon starts to enter Earth's umbra.
The entire moon will then appear red at 2:26 a.m. EDT on Friday.
The partial eclipse ends Fridayat 4:47 a.m. EDT. After that, the moon will continue to transition out of Earth's soft shadow (the penumbra).
A more detailed step-by-step timeline is laid out here by NASA.
Will there be other lunar eclipses?
According to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, there will be several lunar eclipses through 2030. However, it all comes down to location.
