Portland, Maine – Maine residents should mark their calendars now for March 3, when a rare 58-minute Blood Moon will unfold between 6:04 and 7:03 a.m., offering the state’s last total lunar eclipse view until 2028.
According to NASA eclipse timing data, totality begins at 6:04 a.m. Eastern Time on March 3 and peaks at 6:33 a.m., with the Moon fully immersed in Earth’s shadow. The lunar disk will glow copper-red low in the western sky and may set during totality across far eastern Maine, tightening the viewing window as sunrise approaches.
From Portland’s Eastern Promenade to Bangor’s waterfront and Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, west-facing vantage points will offer the clearest views. In Augusta and Lewiston, residents should seek elevated areas away from downtown lighting. Darker skies near Baxter State Park and along the Midcoast improve contrast and visibility.
The partial phase starts around 5:04 a.m., so stepping outside at least 30 minutes early on March 3 allows viewers to watch Earth’s shadow gradually move across the Moon before totality begins. No eclipse glasses are required, and binoculars can enhance subtle color detail.
Cloud cover could affect visibility, making a weather check the night before essential. Once the Moon sets on the morning of March 3, Maine will not see another total lunar eclipse until 2028 — making this early-morning event one residents should plan for now.
