Mississippi

Will Mississippi see the total lunar eclipse in March? Here’s when it is and how to watch

Published

1 year ago

March 7, 2025

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Will Mississippi see the total lunar eclipse in March? Here’s when it is and how to watch

Stargazers in Mississippi will be busy this month with a few celestial events to celebrate.

A rare “blood moon” lunar eclipse will be visible over Mississippi in mid-March. It happens on the night of the full Worm Moon, but you might need to drink some coffee because it’ll be pretty late before the total eclipse period.

For a few days this month, sky watchers will be able to see Venus twice a night. That chance might not come around again for eight years.

And the equinox will kick off spring later in the month.

Here’s what you need to know about the best times to see this super rare total lunar eclipse, when you can see the planet of love and when the equinox will usher in springtime.

March 2025: When is the full Worm Moon?

Friday, March 14, 2025, is when the full Worm Moon wriggles its way into the night sky. That’s also the date of a total lunar eclipse for the Americas, according to NASA. (Download Sky Tonight app, and you can see when celestial events will happen in your location.)

The moon’s phases in March are:

🌓 First Quarter: March 6.
🌕 Full Moon: March 14.
🌗 Last Quarter: March 22.
🌑 New Moon: March 29.

March 2025 full moon also a total lunar eclipse

North America will experience a total lunar eclipse the night of Thursday, March 13, and early on Friday, March 14, writes NASA.

According to timeanddate.com, there are phases of the eclipse that will be visible from Mississippi. The whole thing will take about six hours, but the time for total eclipse will range from around 1:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. with a peak around 2.

Times are in Central:

10:57 p.m.: Penumbral eclipse – Earth’s penumbra starts touching the moon’s face.
12:09 a.m.: Partial eclipse – moon starts getting red.
1:26 p.m.: Total eclipse – total eclipse starts, moon is totally red.
1:58 a.m.: Maximum eclipse – moon is closest to center of shadow.
2:31 a.m.: Total eclipse ends.
3:47 a.m.: Partial eclipse ends.
5 a.m.: Penumbral eclipse ends.

What will the total lunar eclipse look like?

The moon will be dimmer than normal and have a red-orange tint for a few hours.

The spectacle will be on display while the moon moves through Leo and Virgo.

Do you need special equipment to see the eclipse?

No. Lunar eclipses can be viewed with the naked eye. They don’t require special protective glasses like a solar eclipse.

Why is it called the Worm Moon?

It was once believed the Worm Moon’s name was derived from earthworms wriggling through March’s warming soil, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, which heralded the first signs of spring as birds returned to feast on them. Perhaps the full moon in March should’ve been called the “Robin Moon.”

However, more research revealed the name likely originates from notes taken by Captain Jonathan Carver, who in the 1760s visited Native American tribes and wrote that the “Worm Moon” refers to a species of beetle larvae that emerged from thawing bark around this time.

What are other names for the March full moon?

Other names for March’s full moon from Native American tribes include the Crow Comes Back Moon, the Eagle Moon and the Sugar Moon.

What time is the full moon in March 2025 in Mississippi?

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, moonrise for the Jackson area will happen by roughly 6:48 p.m. Thursday, March 13 and set at at 6:58 a.m. Friday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer’s Almanac online.

The full moon’s peak will be at 1:54 a.m.

How rare are lunar and solar eclipses?

A partial solar eclipse will be on March 29. It will be visible from parts of the U.S., but Mississippi is not one of the states that will see it. (If you get to watch from somewhere it’s visible, be sure to use the proper eye protection.)

Another total lunar eclipse will happed on Sept. 7 but won’t be visible from the Americas.

The next visible eclipses in Mississippi, according to timeanddate.com, will be a total lunar eclipse in March 2026 and a partial lunar eclipse in August 2026.

We won’t see a solar eclipse until January 2028, and it’ll be a partial.

The next total solar eclipse visible from Jackson will be on Aug. 12, 2045.

Spring Equinox 2025: March 20

Spring began on March 1, for meteorological purposes and will start on March 20 for astronomical purposes.

According to Earthsky, the equinox marks the sun crossing above the equator, bringing the Northern Hemisphere spring. Autumn also starts in the Southern Hemisphere.

The sun will cross the celestial equator at 4:01 a.m. CT March 20.

March 18-21: Dual visibility of Venus

Venus, the brightest plant in the Solar System, will be visible twice in the same 24 hours for three days this month.

It will appear as the “Morning Star” before sunrise and again as the “Evening Star” after sunset on March 18-21. Check times it will appear near you at Stellarium.

To see it, find somewhere with a clear view of the horizons to the east and west without light pollution or obstructions. After the sun sets, look to the west, and Venus should be very bright. In the morning before the sun rises, look east.

According to Starwalk, this won’t happen again until 2033.

Which planets are easiest to see?

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are the brightest, according to NASA. Uranus can be seen without equipment on a dark night if the person has good eyesight. But Neptune is so far out in the solar system, a telescope is necessary.

When can I see the planets normally?

Mars Jupiter and Saturn are often visible, per NASA. But seeing Venus or Mercury without a telescope is notable.

Venus can only be seen for a few months at a time just before sunrise or after sunset.

Mercury can be seen for a few days or weeks at a time, also around the time the sun rises or sets.

When is the full moon in April 2025?

The Pink Moon should reach peak illumination by Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Need help finding stars, planets and constellations? Try these free astronomy apps

The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations.

Contributing: Brandi D. Addison and Eric Lagatta

John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

What channel is Mississippi State baseball vs Ole Miss on today? Time, TV schedule to watch college baseball game

Published

6 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

What channel is Mississippi State baseball vs Ole Miss on today? Time, TV schedule to watch college baseball game

Mississippi State baseball, coming off a sweep of Vanderbilt, travels to Ole Miss for a three-game series, starting on March 27.

The Bulldogs (21-4, 4-2 SEC) swept Vandy last weekend in Starkville to move above .500 in league play after two weeks.

Ole Miss (19-7, 3-3) took two of three games from Kentucky last weekend in Oxford.

Mississippi State and Ole Miss will also play on April 28 in Pearl.

Here’s how you can watch Mississippi State baseball vs Ole Miss:

Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss on March 27 will be televised via streaming on SEC Network+, which is housed on the ESPN app and can be accessed via a SEC Network subscription. If you are subscribed to SEC Network, you can access SEC Network+ online.

Game 1 start time: 6:30 p.m on March 27, SEC Network+
Game 2 start time: 1:30 p.m. on March 28, SEC Network+
Game 3 start time: 3 p.m on March 29, SEC Network

Feb. 13: Hofstra, W 6-5
Feb. 14: Hofstra, W 6-1
Feb. 14: Hofstra, W 7-5
Feb. 17: Troy, W 13-7
Feb. 18: Alcorn State, W 19-0 (7 innings)
Feb. 20: Delaware, W 9-2
Feb. 21: Delaware, W 10-0 (8 innings)
Feb. 22: Delaware, W 7-3
Feb. 24: Austin Peay, W 16-3 (7 innings)
Feb. 27: vs. Arizona State in Arlington, Texas, W 8-4
Feb. 28: vs. Virginia Tech in Arlington, Texas, W 15-8
March 1: vs. UCLA in Arlington, Texas, L 8-7 (10 innings)
March 3: at Southern Miss, L 7-6
March 5: Lipscomb, W 8-3
March 6: Lipscomb, W 9-4
March 7: Lipscomb, W 26-0 (7 innings)
March 10: vs. Tulane in Biloxi, W 11-7
March 13: at Arkansas, L 5-4
March 14: at Arkansas, W 7-2
March 15: at Arkansas, L 7-3
March 17: Jackson State, W 17-1 (7 innings)
March 20: Vanderbilt, W 4-2
March 21: Vanderbilt, W 7-2
March 22: Vanderbilt, W 17-7 (7)
March 24: Southern Miss, W 12-0 (7)
March 27: at Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m on SEC Network+
March 28: at Ole Miss, 1:30 p.m on SEC Network+
March 29: at Ole Miss, 3 p.m on SEC Network
March 31: Grambling
April 2-4: Georgia
April 7: UAB
April 10-12: Tennessee
April 14: at Samford
April 17-19: at South Carolina
April 21: Memphis
April 24-26: LSU
April 28: vs. Ole Miss in Pearl, Miss.
May 1-3: at Texas
May 5: Nicholls
May 7-9: Auburn
May 14-16: at Texas A&M

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Mississippi

Diamond Dawgs Set For Top 20 Showdown In Oxford – Mississippi State

Published

18 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Diamond Dawgs Set For Top 20 Showdown In Oxford – Mississippi State

OXFORD – No. 6 Mississippi State carries momentum and confidence into one of college baseball’s fiercest rivalries this weekend, traveling to face No. 18 Ole Miss in a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Swayze Field.

The Diamond Dawgs arrive in Oxford riding a five-game winning streak and carrying plenty of momentum into one of the league’s premier matchups. MSU sits at 21-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while the Rebels enter at 19-6 and 3-3 in the SEC.

Mississippi State has been one of the most complete teams in the country through the first half of the season. The Bulldogs are hitting .347 as a team with a .452 on-base percentage and 39 home runs, consistently putting pressure on opposing pitching staffs. Ole Miss counters with plenty of power of its own, already launching 46 homers while posting a .500 slugging percentage.

The engine for State’s offense has been graduate outfielder Bryce Chance, who leads the SEC with a .452 batting average and has struck out just three times all season. All-American infielder Ace Reese continues to anchor the middle of the lineup with a team-high seven home runs and 34 RBIs, while Noah Sullivan and Aidan Teel provide consistent production around them to give the Diamond Dawgs one of the deepest lineups in the league.

Mississippi State will lean on its weekend rotation that has begun to separate itself as a strength. Left-hander Charlie Foster is expected to get the ball in Friday’s opener. The Bulldogs will then turn to sophomore standout Tomas Valincius on Saturday. The southpaw has been dominant, going 5-0 with a 1.04 ERA and 47 strikeouts, highlighted by a 14-strikeout performance in his last outing. Right-hander Duke Stone is slated for Sunday and brings a 4-0 record with him into the series.

Ole Miss is expected to counter with left-hander Hunter Elliott in the opener, a veteran arm with a 3-0 record and 44 strikeouts, followed by right-hander Hudson Calhoun on Saturday. The Rebels have yet to announce a starter for the series finale. As a staff, Ole Miss owns a 3.56 ERA with 293 strikeouts, setting up a matchup between two pitching groups capable of missing bats at a high level.

While the Bulldogs have dominated at home — winning 19 straight games at Dudy Noble Field dating back to last season — this weekend presents another opportunity for State to prove itself away from Starkville. MSU is 1-3 in true road games this year but has shown the ability to compete against elite competition throughout the early part of the schedule.

The rivalry history leans in Mississippi State’s favor, with the Bulldogs holding a 268-213-5 advantage in the all-time series. State has also won two straight meetings between the programs, adding another layer of confidence heading into the weekend.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching ‘HailStateBB’ on X, Facebook and Instagram.Top of Form

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MS turkey hunter who thought hunt was ruined bags bird of a lifetime

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

MS turkey hunter who thought hunt was ruined bags bird of a lifetime

‘I would call him a hybrid between a smoke phase and a red phase. He’s not a true smoke phase because of all the red in him.’

A Mississippi hunter bagged a rare, reddish-colored turkey after a frustrating start to his hunting season.
The turkey’s unique coloration is described as a hybrid between a smoke phase and a red phase.
According to a wildlife official, this genetic mutation is exceedingly rare, especially in male turkeys.

A Mississippi turkey hunter’s season wasn’t off to a good start, but with a change in plans, a little scouting, some luck thrown in, he bagged a rare reddish-colored turkey and it’s considered a bird of a lifetime.

“I’d been hunting the same bird since opening day,” said Barrett Clark of Strong, which is located near West Point. “He finally frustrated me enough to where I just needed to go look for another bird.”

Clark wasn’t able to connect with the gobbler he was after. So, on Friday, March 20, he decided to check another property. He located a few gobblers that afternoon, but one looked different. It appeared to have a lighter color than normal, but Clark figured it was just the way the sunlight was hitting the bird.

The following morning, Clark and his father, Larry Clark, returned to the area in hopes of getting a shot at one of the birds.

A turkey hunt that was almost ruined

“We met and went in early Saturday morning,” Clark said. “We were probably 300 yards away from him when he started gobbling. It was right at sunrise. He was gobbling off the roost.”

The gobbler flew off the roost and continued to gobble. Clark said he lightly called the bird. Then, a gunshot rang out from a nearby property and the gobbling stopped. To make matters worse, minutes later a coyote appeared and it looked like he was after the turkey that had been gobbling.

“That coyote came within 15 feet of my dad and ran straight to where the turkey had been gobbling,” Clark said. “We thought our hunt was boogered up.”

MS hunter shoots turkey with strange colors

The hunt wasn’t over, though. About 10 or 15 minutes later the gobbling resumed and Clark lightly called back. A little later, Clark saw a turkey through the trees in the neighborhood of 100 yards away.

“I was really just seeing his head move,” Clark said. “I would see his fan occasionally, but it was mostly just his head. I could tell he was lighter, but I really wasn’t focused on that. I was trying to stay still and make a good shot.”

Clark said he was hunting in pines that were maybe 10 years old, and the understory was thick. The bird came within 50 yards of him, but there was no shot. The bird began to walk away but stepped into an opening, and Clark pulled the trigger of his 20-gauge shotgun.

Clark still didn’t understand what he’d shot. He said it was only when he and his father got closer that they realized how unusual it was.

“We could tell it was something that neither of us had ever seen,” Clark said.

What is it, and how rare is this turkey?

The bird is a light rust or cinnamon color and lacks any normal coloration, but putting a label on it isn’t easy.

“I would call him a hybrid between a smoke phase and a red phase,” said Caleb Hinton, Wild Turkey Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. “He’s not a true smoke phase because of all the red in him.”

Hinton couldn’t put a number on it, but he said a genetic trait like this is very rare.

“Like all the genetic mutations, it’s exceedingly rare in the wild,” Hinton said.

And for a gobbler to express such a genetic trait is even more rare. Hinton said that upwards of 95% of the turkeys that express such traits will be hens, not gobblers.

“It’s just a once-in-a-lifetime trophy for the hunter,” Hinton said.

A lifelong outdoorsman and wildlife enthusiast, Brian Broom has been writing about hunting, fishing and Mississippi’s outdoors for the Clarion Ledger for more than 14 years. He can be reached at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

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