The first lunar eclipse of the year will occur on March 3.

Axar.az informs according to the Department of Astrophysics at Baku State University, it will be a total lunar eclipse.

During the eclipse, the Earth’s shadow will completely cover the Moon, giving it a reddish color. This “blood moon” effect happens because the Earth’s atmosphere filters sunlight, allowing only red and orange rays to reach the Moon’s surface.

The Earth’s shadow has two parts: the penumbra and the umbra. When the Moon enters the penumbra, a penumbral eclipse occurs, which is barely noticeable. When it enters the umbra, a visible partial or total eclipse begins.

On March 3, the penumbral eclipse will start at 12:44:25, the partial eclipse at 13:50:00, and the total eclipse at 15:04:26, lasting about 58 minutes. The maximum eclipse will occur at 15:33:46. The total phase will end at 16:02:45, the partial eclipse at 17:17:10, and the penumbral eclipse at 18:22:59.

The eclipse will be visible from Asia, Australia, and North America. It will be the last total lunar eclipse before the “blood moon” on December 31, 2028 – January 1, 2029. Since the Moon will be below the horizon during the event, it won’t be visible from Azerbaijan.