The US will see a rare 'blood moon' eclipse before sunrise this March: Where and when to look

Image of a red-tinted moon against a clear black sky with a small ring of light peeking out from the bottom right of the moon. .

Skywatchers across western North America will have the chance to witness a total lunar eclipse, often dubbed a "blood moon," in the early morning hours of March 3.

A total lunar eclipse happens when the full moon — in this case, March's full "Worm Moon" — passes through Earth's shadow in space. As it does so, it appears red, as it's lit only by sunlight filtered through Earth's atmosphere.