Will South Africans see the Blood Moon eclipse next week?

The first major astronomical event of 2026, a total lunar eclipse, often called a “blood moon”, will take place on 3 March.

However, South Africans hoping to catch a glimpse of the reddish lunar display will be disappointed: the eclipse will not be visible from Africa.

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Instead, the total lunar eclipse will be clearly visible across North and Central America, with partial visibility in parts of Central and South Asia. Europe and Africa fall outside the viewing zone for this event.

What is a blood moon?

A blood moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon.

As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue wavelengths are scattered while longer red wavelengths bend and reach the Moon’s surface. This gives the Moon its distinctive copper or reddish glow.

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to observe with the naked eye. They are also relatively rare at any one location, making them a highlight for stargazers.

During the 3 March event, totality, when the Moon is fully immersed in Earth’s shadow, will last just 12 minutes, with the reddish colour appearing a few hours before sunrise in the regions where it is visible.

Why South Africa won’t see this one

Although the eclipse begins in the early morning hours globally, totality will occur close to dawn in the Americas.

Because of Earth’s rotation and the Moon’s position at the time, the eclipse will not be above the horizon in South Africa, meaning it will not be visible anywhere on the continent.

A reminder of last year’s spectacle

South Africans were treated to a blood moon in September 2025, when a total lunar eclipse was visible across large parts of the country.

That event saw the full Moon gradually darken before turning a deep reddish hue during totality, drawing sky-watchers and photographers outdoors in cities including Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

While South Africa will miss out on this week’s total lunar eclipse, blood moons are part of predictable celestial cycles. Another visible eclipse will come, even if this one belongs to viewers across the Atlantic

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