On March 14, 2025, a rare total lunar eclipse, also known as Chandra Grahan or the Blood Moon, will take place, coinciding with the vibrant Holi celebrations in India. The celestial event will unfold in the afternoon, with the total phase beginning at 11:57 AM, reaching its peak at 12:29 PM, and concluding by 01:01 PM. This unique alignment of a major cultural festival and a significant astronomical occurrence is expected to captivate skywatchers and add an extra layer of magic to the festivities.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth goes between the Moon and the Sun, casting the Earth’s shadow on the Moon. A rare total lunar eclipse involves the Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of the planet’s shadow, covering the Moon.
According to NASA, this type of eclipse can also be called a “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange colour the moon can become during totality. The colouration occurs due to sunlight scattering through the Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the Moon’s surface — shorter wavelengths like blue and violet fail to reach the Moon, leaving only longer wavelengths such as red and orange to illuminate it. As a result, the more items there are in the Earth’s atmosphere – such as clouds or dust – the redder the Moon will appear during the eclipse.
Keep a close eye on the weather forecast leading up to the eclipse,” said NASA Chief Scientist Renee Weber in a statement. “That totality will last for close to an hour, so even if it’s cloudy, you may still be able to glimpse it if the clouds are scattered.”
The timing of totality occurs simultaneously across time zones and is expected to begin at 2:26 am Friday for those in Eastern Daylight Time and 11:26 pm Thursday in Pacific Daylight Time.