by Bryce McCabe, staff writer (Front Range Community College; Metro State University)

As Earth’s shadow fell across the Moon during the total lunar eclipse on March 3rd, 2026, a small amount of light was refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere to create the spectacle of known as a “blood moon.” March’s blood moon eclipse was the result of Earth’s shadow covering the moon mixed with a small amount of the Sun’s rays being refracted by our atmosphere to create rich, red hues.

The moon before the eclipse.

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