Do you need to wear glasses to see the Total Lunar Eclipse? Here’s what experts say

If you happen to be in the United States on the night of March 13 to the morning of March 14, you could be in store for another astronomical treat in the form of a total lunar eclipse, also dubbed ‘blood moon’.

When is the Total Lunar eclipse?

Starting on the night of March 13 and continuing into the early hours of March 14, the umbra, the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, will cover the moon during its brightest phase. As a result, the moon will turn a deep shade of red, hence the term ‘blood moon’.

This particular total lunar eclipse is expected to be visible across the entirety of the United States and the vast majority the Western Hemisphere.

According to NASA, the eclipse will begin at 11:57 p.m ET / 8:57 p.m. PT on Thursday, March 13, with totality to occur at 2:26 a.m. ET (Friday, March 14) / 11:26 p.m. ET (March 13).

Totality, during which time the moon will be at its darkest, is expected to last for just over an hour, with the eclipse as a whole to take place over a period of approximately six hours (although it will be difficult to tell right at the beginning and the end).

Where are the best places to see the ‘blood moon’ eclipse in the U.S.?

In theory, you should be able to see the eclipse no matter where you are in the U.S., although cloud cover could prove restrictive. For that reason, it is believed western parts of the country, such as Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico, are likely to offer the best views as they typically have better chances of clear skies in March compared to other regions.

Do you need glasses to see the ‘blood moon’?

Unlike with other eclipses, no glasses are required to look at a Total Lunar Eclipse, as Ron Hranac of the Denver Astronomical Society explains: “A fun thing about the lunar eclipse – unlike a solar eclipse – you don’t need any special glasses or filters or anything else to observe it.”

In fact, NASA says that, as well as looking at the moon with the naked eye, pointing binoculars or a telescope right at it can “enhance the view”.

“Use all three, if you’d like, but do take advantage of it, because it is kind of cool to watch as the Earth’s shadows takes progressively bigger bites out of the moon,” Hranac advises.

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