A total lunar eclipse will illuminate the night sky on March 3, coinciding with Jeongwol Daeboreum, the first full moon of the Lunar New Year—a convergence not seen in 36 years.
According to the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, the celestial event will be visible across the entire country, weather permitting.
The eclipse will unfold in stages. The moon rises at 6:18 p.m., with the partial eclipse beginning at 6:49 p.m. The total eclipse runs from 8:04 p.m. to 9:03 p.m., spanning approximately one hour. Peak eclipse occurs at 8:33 p.m., when the moon will display its deepest crimson hue at roughly 24 degrees above the eastern horizon.
During totality, the moon transforms from its usual silver to a dark reddish tone. Sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere refracts and scatters, filtering out blue wavelengths while allowing red light to reach the lunar surface—hence the term "blood moon."
The intensity of the red coloring varies with atmospheric conditions such as fine dust and cloud cover, making each eclipse unique. Scientists can assess Earth's atmospheric state by observing the moon's coloration.
The last total lunar eclipse on Jeongwol Daeboreum occurred on February 10, 1990.
Viewing Tips
Any location with an unobstructed eastern horizon will suffice. The eclipse is visible to the naked eye, even in urban areas. Binoculars or small telescopes can enhance viewing of surface shadow variations. For photography, use a tripod and experiment with multiple exposures starting at mid-range ISO settings.
The next total lunar eclipse visible from Korea will occur on December 31, 2028.