A rare blood moon will rise tonight but only half of Australia will see it in all its glory
Updated . First published
There's a rare blood moon on the horizon the likes of which Australia won't see again for nearly three years.
But only half of the country will be able to see it in all its glory tonight.
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.
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A total lunar eclipse is also known as a blood moon due to its dramatic red colouring. Getty
What is a total lunar eclipse/blood moon?
A "blood moon" is another term for a total lunar eclipse.
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.
The last blood moon visible from Australia occurred just a few months ago on September 8, 2025.
This one will fall over the evening of Tuesday March 3 and into the early morning of Wednesday March 4.
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After that, we won't see another blood moon until the early hours of January 1, 2029.
Though total lunar eclipses are not considered especially rare, they are dramatic to witness.
They can also last quite a while, with the red 'totality' phase typically lasting anywhere from half an hour to nearly two hours.
The 2026 blood moon should spend about an hour in its totality phase.
The next blood moon won't be visible until January 1, 2029. Darrian Traynor
Can the lunar eclipse be seen in Australia?
The 2026 blood moon will be visible from all of Australia tonight, though only the east coast will witness the full eclipse from beginning to end.
Parts of central Australia and the west coast may experience reduced visibility as the sun will not have fully set when the eclipse starts.
Later phases of the eclipse will still be visible once the sun goes down in those areas.
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When is the Lunar Eclipse in Australia?
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.
The best time to see it will be during the totality phase, when the moon turns a dramatic shade of red.
Here are the start and end times of the totality phase in each capital city:
- Sydney - starts 10.04pm, ends 11.02pm
- Canberra - starts 10.04pm, ends 11.02pm
- Brisbane - starts 9.04pm, ends 10.02pm
- Melbourne - starts 10.04pm, ends 11.02pm
- Adelaide - starts 9.34pm, ends 10.32pm
- Hobart - starts 10.04pm, ends 11.02pm
- Darwin - starts 8.34pm, ends 9.32pm
- Perth - starts 7.04pm, ends 8.02pm
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