Tasmanians are being encouraged to look up late on Tuesday 3 March, when a rare total lunar eclipse will see the Moon take on a deep red glow for almost an hour.
Dr Martin George, Astronomer at the Ulverstone Planetarium at Hive, said total lunar eclipses are often called ‘blood moons’ because sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere bends into Earth’s shadow and softly illuminates the Moon.
“That filtered light gives the Moon its distinctive copper-red colour,” Dr George said.
The eclipse will begin at 8.50 pm AEDT as the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow. The total phase – when the Moon is fully immersed – will last from 10.04 pm to 11.03 pm, before the eclipse concludes at 12.17 am.
“It’s hard to predict exactly how dark the Moon will become,” Dr George said. “In this eclipse, the Moon does not pass through the shadow’s centre, so part of it will appear lighter — which should make for a particularly interesting sight.”
Dr George said lunar eclipses are among the most accessible astronomical events.
“You don’t need any special equipment,” he said. “It’s one of those occasions when people across Tasmania can simply step outside and share the same view of the night sky.”
The eclipse will be visible across Australia, with Tasmania well placed to see the full total phase if skies remain clear. The most recent total lunar eclipse visible from Tasmania occurred in September 2025, though many people missed it due to cloud cover. The next will not occur until January 2029.
“We often see a real sense of excitement when people experience something like this for the first time,” Dr George said. “If it sparks curiosity, we’d be delighted to welcome people to the Ulverstone Planetarium at Hive to learn more about the wonders of our universe.”
To learn more about the Ulverstone Planetarium at Hive, visit www.hivetasmania.com.au/planetarium/