Published on
March 3, 2026
A striking ‘blood moon’ will be visible across Australia tonight, 3rd March 2026, when the moon turns a deep copper red in the night sky.
A montage of pictures shows the phases of the Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse as it is seen in Depok City, West Java province, Indonesia, on September 8, 2025. (Photo by Aditya Irawan/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
When is the best time to see the blood moon in Australia?
The eclipse lasts around 3 hours but will peak at different times throughout the country.
WA – 7:33pm
NT – 9:03pm
QLD – 9:33pm
SA – 10:03pm
NSW – 10:33pm
ACT – 10:33pm
Vic – 10:33pm
Tas – 10:33pm
What is a blood moon?
A blood moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon.
Instead of going completely dark, the Moon glows red. That colour appears when:
The Sun, Earth, and Moon are in a straight line
Sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere
Shorter wavelength blue light is scattered away
Longer red wavelengths make it through
ANKARA, TURKIYE – MARCH 12: An infographic titled “Total lunar eclipse” created in Ankara, Turkiye on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Murat Usubali/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Where and how to see the blood moon in Australia?
You don’t need a telescope, just a clear sky.
It is visible from urban areas like Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane. Unlike faint stars, the Moon is bright enough to cut through light pollution.
To improve visibility:
Head to a park, beach, or waterfront
Avoid streetlights
Search for elevation
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