Blood Moon to Glow Over India on March 3

On 3rd March 2026, the skywatchers in India will witness an eclipse of a full moon that will move over the largest part of the earth. The entire eclipse will be visible in most parts of the world but the remainder will only be witnessed in most parts of India just after the moon has risen.

During an eclipse of the Moon, the Earth interposes the light of the Sun between the Moon and the Sun, which projects its opaque and central shadow (the umbra) on the moon. The Moon appears a coppery-red color many times during this period, a so-called Blood Moon. Moon eclipses in a partial eclipse, in contrast, only a portion of the Moon comes into the shadow of the Earth.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the magnitude of the eclipse will be 1.155, presenting a total lunar eclipse with a deep totality. It will be seen in East Asia, Australia, Americas, and some parts of India.

Visibility Across India

The eclipse will take away most of India at the point of moonrise. In northeast India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the eclipse will reach the closing phase, and the viewer will not miss the eclipse.

Cities like Nagpur or Chennai might experience the Moon developing a partial shadow when taking off at the eastern horizon on the sunset.

Key Timings (IST)

Eclipse begins: 3:20 pm  
Total phase begins: 4:34 pm  
Total phase ends: 5:33 pm  
Eclipse ends: 6:48 pm  

Although, even the complete total eclipse is not going to be seen in most cities of India due to the timing of moonrise, the viewers could still follow the exciting climactic moments of this rare phenomenon.

With good weather, the March 3 eclipse will be a memorable evening event to people who will be peering eastwards.

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