Blood moon lunar eclipse lights up skies around the world
BBC World
March 3, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The night sky recently hosted a rare celestial event as the Worm Moon coincided with a total lunar eclipse, creating a striking "Blood Moon" visible in parts of the world. The first full moon of spring, known as the Worm Moon due to its connection with earthworms emerging in springtime, rose across the United Kingdom and other regions. However, for skywatchers in North America, South America, East Asia, and Australia, the full moon was also eclipsed by Earth's shadow, turning it a deep reddish hue. This phenomenon, known as a Blood Moon, occurs when sunlight filtered through Earth's atmosphere casts a rusty red glow on the moon's surface.
The Worm Moon, named for ancient traditions marking seasonal changes, appeared full and bright in the UK skies on Monday night and remained visible into the following days. While the eclipse was not visible in the UK, other parts of the world experienced the rare alignment of a full moon with a total lunar eclipse. This event occurred during the early hours of Wednesday morning local time in regions like Beijing and across North America.
Lunar eclipses happen when Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the moon's surface. The red coloration, or "Blood Moon," is caused by Earth's atmosphere scattering sunlight during this event. This natural phenomenon has fascinated cultures throughout history and offers a unique opportunity for stargazers to witness a stunning celestial display
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Originally published on BBC World on 3/3/2026