Manchester, New Hampshire – Granite State residents should mark March 3 now, when a rare 58-minute Blood Moon will unfold from 6:04 to 7:03 a.m., delivering New Hampshire’s last visible total lunar eclipse until 2028.
According to NASA eclipse timing data, totality begins at 6:04 a.m. Eastern Time on March 3 and reaches peak redness at 6:33 a.m. The Moon will sit low in the western sky and may set during totality, especially across eastern parts of the state, tightening the viewing window as sunrise approaches.
In Manchester and Nashua, west-facing hilltops and open areas away from downtown lighting will offer clearer views. Along the Seacoast in Portsmouth and Hampton, an unobstructed western horizon improves visibility. Higher elevations in the White Mountains, including overlooks near Franconia Notch and North Conway, provide darker skies and broader sightlines.
The partial eclipse begins around 5:04 a.m., giving early risers nearly an hour to watch Earth’s shadow steadily cover the Moon before it turns copper-red. No eclipse glasses are required. Binoculars or a small telescope can enhance detail and deepen color contrast.
Cloud cover could interfere, so checking local weather conditions on March 2 is essential. Once the Moon slips below the horizon on the morning of March 3, the next total lunar eclipse visible in New Hampshire will not occur until 2028 — making this a rare pre-dawn event worth planning for now.
