Near-total lunar eclipse coming, to be visible to over 3 billion people
A near-total lunar eclipse is set to occur, with 96% of the moon obscured by Earth's shadow. The event will be visible to billions of people across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Why it matters
Lunar eclipses provide significant public engagement opportunities for space science and astronomy education.
A man views the lunar eclipse, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in South Portland, Maine. | Associated Press photo, Robert F. Bukaty, file
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — Now it’s the moon’s turn to pull a disappearing act.
After being shut out of this month’s total solar eclipse, the Americas will have the best seats in the celestial house when Earth’s shadow briefly envelops the moon. Almost the entire lunar surface will be masked Thursday night into Friday — a whopping 96% — making this an especially deep partial eclipse.
The moon is already in the spotlight. NASA sent the Artemis II astronauts on a record-breaking lunar flyby in April, the prelude to eventually landing on the surface and building a base swarming with people and robots over the next several years.
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