Billings, Montana – Early risers across Montana will have a front-row seat to a total lunar eclipse Tuesday morning as the moon turns a deep red before sunrise.
According to the National Weather Service in Billings, the eclipse begins at 2:50 a.m. MST Tuesday. Totality, when the moon is fully covered by Earth’s shadow, will occur from 4:04 a.m. to 5:03 a.m. The eclipse ends at 6:17 a.m., shortly after the peak viewing window.
Skies are expected to cooperate across much of eastern and south-central Montana. Forecasters indicate mostly clear conditions from Billings and Livingston to Miles City and Sheridan, offering strong visibility during the 4 a.m. hour. Communities including Roundup, Red Lodge and Glendive should also see favorable viewing conditions, though a few thin clouds cannot be ruled out near the Wyoming border.
March’s full moon is known as the Worm Moon, a seasonal name marking the time when soils begin to thaw and earthworms reappear.
Lunar eclipses are safe to watch without protective eyewear. Viewers should head to darker areas away from city lights and dress for chilly early morning temperatures, especially along the I-90 corridor.
Additional sky condition updates could be issued if cloud cover trends change before daybreak Tuesday.
