Pakistan is set to witness a total lunar eclipse during the holy month of Ramadan, with the rare celestial event scheduled to occur on March 3, 2026, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
The eclipse, often referred to as a “Blood Moon,” will occur when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth’s shadow to fall across the lunar surface.
During totality, the Moon is expected to take on a reddish hue due to sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere and bending toward the Moon.
As per the PMD, the eclipse will begin at 1:44pm (PST). The partial phase will start at 2:50pm, while the total eclipse is expected to begin at 4:05pm, reaching its peak at 4:34pm. The totality phase will end at 5:03pm, with the eclipse concluding completely by 7:23pm.
Officials noted that visibility across Pakistan will be partial, as some phases of the eclipse will occur during daylight hours. Despite this limitation, the event is being described as one of the most significant astronomical phenomena of 2026.
Astronomers explain that the Moon appears red during a total lunar eclipse because Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths of sunlight, allowing longer red wavelengths to reach the Moon’s surface.
Globally, the eclipse will be visible across large parts of Asia, Australia, North America, South America, and other regions, depending on local timing and weather conditions.
Notably, this will be the only total lunar eclipse of 2026 and the last such event until December 31, 2028, making it a rare and highly anticipated spectacle for skywatchers around the world.
