Look Up: A Blood Moon Will Be Visible Over Manila This March

(SPOT.ph) Here's a celestial event that doesn’t require waking up at 3 a.m.: A total lunar eclipse will be visible in Manila and other parts of the Philippines on March 3, 2026.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Moon will rise at 5:58 p.m., by then already partially eclipsed.

The Moon will be fully covered by Earth’s shadow starting at 7:04 p.m., marking the beginning of totality. The eclipse will reach its peak at 7:34 p.m. At peak eclipse, the Moon may appear reddish—a common effect during total lunar eclipses. This happens because sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere casts a faint red glow onto the Moon. That’s why total lunar eclipses are sometimes called “Blood Moon.”

Totality will end at 8:03 p.m., after which the Moon slowly moves out of Earth’s shadow by 9:17 p.m. The lunar eclipse will officially conclude at 10:25 p.m.

All in all, the Moon will stay fully eclipsed for about 59 minutes and 24 seconds—just under an hour.

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The eclipse will be visible in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao, among other parts of the country.

No special equipment is needed to watch. Unlike solar eclipses, PAGASA said lunar eclipses are safe to observe with the naked eye. A pair of binoculars can give you a clearer view, but they’re optional.

“The Total Lunar Eclipse is very easy to observe. A modest pair of binoculars will provide an excellent view of the Moon's surface, but not required,” PAGASA noted. Of course, visibility will ultimately depend on the weather.

Outside the Philippines, the March 3 eclipse will also be visible across Eastern Asia, Australia, the Central Pacific, and most of the Americas.

Also read: LOOK: The Philippines Experienced a “Zero Shadow Day”