Portland, Oregon – Oregonians should mark March 3 now, when a rare 58-minute Blood Moon will unfold from 3:04 to 4:03 a.m. Pacific Time, delivering the state’s last visible total lunar eclipse until 2028.
According to NASA eclipse timing data, totality begins at 3:04 a.m. PT on March 3 and peaks at 3:33 a.m., when the Moon turns deep red inside Earth’s shadow. The Moon will sit low in the western sky during totality, with the deepest red coloration visible before early dawn light begins to increase.
In Portland, west-facing viewpoints such as Council Crest Park or open areas along the Willamette River away from downtown lighting will improve visibility. Eugene residents can seek rural edges of the Willamette Valley for darker skies. In Bend and the High Desert, clear, dry air and minimal light pollution may provide some of the best statewide contrast, while Medford and southern Oregon benefit from open horizons away from city glare.
The partial eclipse begins around 2:04 a.m. PT, giving night owls nearly an hour to watch Earth’s shadow steadily cover the Moon before totality. No eclipse glasses are required, and binoculars can enhance surface detail and deepen the copper-red tones.
Cloud cover could interfere, so checking local weather conditions on March 2 is essential. Once dawn brightens the sky on the morning of March 3, Oregon will not see another total lunar eclipse until 2028 — making this overnight event worth planning for now.
