<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There's a rare </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/astronomy" rel="" target="_blank" title="blood moon"><span>blood moon</span></a><span> on the horizon the likes of which </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span> won't see again for nearly three years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But only half of the country will be able to see it in all its glory next week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's everything you need to know about when to watch for it, how to see it, and where it will be most visible in Australia.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WORLD:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-says-us-sending-hospital-boat-to-greenland/7fa7e6ac-a649-4a7e-807e-4e3472f18439" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump offered to send Greenland a 'hospital boat'. The reply was blunt.</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What is the total Lunar Eclipse/Blood Moon?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 'blood moon' is another term for a total lunar eclipse.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The name is a nod to the reddish colour the moon turns when Earth passes between it and the sun, blocking the sunlight that usually illuminates it in shades of white.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/blood-moon-2026-total-lunar-eclipse-when-how-to-watch-best-visibility-australia-everything-to-know/56e27a09-21b0-436e-b4dc-bd7b12fad938" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The last blood moon that was visible from Australia occurred just a few months ago on September 8, 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This one will fall over the evening of Monday March 2 and into the early morning of Tuesday March 3.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/i-felt-defamed-the-perth-mum-and-business-owner-cancelled-by-metas-ai/2d86f7fd-dc91-4c13-a8a4-411ac938cfac" target="_blank"><strong><span>'I felt defamed': Perth mum and business owner cancelled by Meta's AI</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After that, we won't see another blood moon until the early hours of January 1, 2029.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Though total lunar eclipses are not considered especially rare, they are dramatic to witness.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They can also last quite a while, with the red 'totality' phase typically lasting anywhere from half an hour to nearly two hours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 2026 blood moon should spend about an hour in its totality phase.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Can the lunar eclipse be seen in Australia?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 2026 blood moon will be visible from all of Australia, though only the east coast will witness the full eclipse from beginning to end.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Parts of central Australia and the west coast may experience reduced visibility as the sun will not have fully set when the eclipse starts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Later phases of the eclipse will still be visible once the sun goes down in those areas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>ROYALS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrest-photo-of-ex-prince-leaving-uk-police-station-hung-in-louvre/e10fdc79-6ce8-4e68-b84e-36a813a0e7ab" target="_blank"><strong><span>Now-infamous photo of ex-prince Andrew hung in the Louvre</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>When is the Lunar Eclipse in Australia?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The best place to witness the blood moon will be in a dark area with an uninterrupted view of the horizon, preferably away from city lights.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The best time to see it will be during the totality phase, when the moon turns a dramatic shade of red.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here are the start and end times of the totality phase in each capital city:</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><span>Sydney - starts 10.04pm, ends 11.02pm</span></li><li><span>Canberra - starts 10.04pm, ends 11.02pm</span></li><li><span>Brisbane - starts 9.04pm, ends 10.02pm</span></li><li><span>Melbourne - starts 10.04pm, ends 11.02pm</span></li><li><span>Adelaide - starts 9.34pm, ends 10.32pm</span></li><li><span>Hobart - starts 10.04pm, ends 11.02pm</span></li><li><span>Darwin - starts 8.34pm, ends 9.32pm</span></li><li><span>Perth - starts 7.04pm, ends 8.02pm</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>