Mississippi
Will Mississippi see the total lunar eclipse in March? Here’s when it is and how to watch
Rare ‘Blood Moon’ Lunar Eclipse: What you need to know
A total lunar eclipse will be visible across much of the Americas and many regions beyond including Europe and the UK on the night of March 13, weather permitting.
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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.
Mississippi State baseball is facing Lipscomb in the first game of the Starkville Regional in the NCAA Tournament on May 29 (1 p.m., ESPN+).
The Bulldogs (40-17) are the host and No. 14 national seed, and Lipscomb (29-24) is the No. 4 seed in the regional. It is the fourth time they’ve played each other this season, with MSU sweeping a March series at Dudy Noble Field.
Here is what to know about Lipscomb University.
Where is Lipscomb University?
Lipscomb is a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. It is about a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Starkville.
Lipscomb University mascot
Lipscomb’s mascot is the Bisons.
What conference is Lipscomb in?
Lipscomb is in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Lipscomb University enrollment
According to US News, Lipscomb has an undergraduate enrollment of 3,006 students and a 68% acceptance rate.
Lipscomb baseball coach
Jeff Forehand is Lipscomb’s baseball coach. He’s in his 20th season and has led Lipscomb to all four of its NCAA Tournament appearances in program history.
Starkville Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA baseball tournament
All games at Dudy Noble Field; double elimination format; game times in Central
Friday, May 29
- Game 1: Mississippi State vs. Lipscomb, 1 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 2: Cincinnati vs. Louisiana, 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Saturday, May 30
- Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m., TBA
- Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m., TBA
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m., TBA
- Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m., TBA
Monday, June 1
- Game 7 (if necessary): TBA
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Hoping to extend its season, Mississippi State softball will play No. 2 seed Texas in its second game at the Women’s College World Series.
The Bulldogs (43-20) will take on the reigning NCAA champion Longhorns (47-12) on May 29 (6 p.m. CT, ESPN) at Devon Park. The loser of the game will be eliminated from the tournament.
Mississippi State made it WCWS debut by falling 8-0 to No. 11 seed Texas Tech in five innings. Texas lost its opener 6-3 to No. 7 seed Tennessee.
Here’s what to know about the matchup.
Texas’ Katie Stewart was SEC’s Player of the Year
Texas’ Katie Stewart was selected as the best player in the SEC during 2026 and helped the Longhorns to a conference title. Stewart, catcher Reese Atwood and pitcher Teagan Kavan were named a second-team NFCA All-American.
Stewart ranks third in the SEC in batting average (.428), fourth in RBIs (72) and second in home runs (27) and on base percentage (.551).
Stewart was ineffective in the Longhorns’ WCWS loss to Tennessee. She went 0-for-3, striking out once and grounding out twice.
Atwood, who’s hitting .337 with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs, fared better against the Lady Vols, finishing 1-for-3 and scoring a run.
Texas’ Teagan Kavan has struggled in recent outings
Teagan Kavan (24-6, 2.54 ERA) has been one of the top pitchers in the nation in each of her three seasons at Texas, but she hasn’t quite looked like herself in some recent appearances.
Kavan started Games 1 and 2 of the super regionals against Arizona State and allowed 11 hits and six runs with four walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. She recovered to shut the Sun Devils out despite allowing five hits in Game 3.
Kavan again started for the Longhorns against Tennessee. Her outing lasted three innings and she gave up three hits and three runs.
Citlaly Gutierrez (9-3, 2.38 ERA) is Texas’ primary reliever and has appeared in four of the Longhorns’ seven NCAA Tournament games. She threw four innings vs. Tennessee, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Does Mississippi State have an ace up its sleeve?
Mississippi State elected to start Alyssa Faircloth (16-8, 2.61 ERA) in its WCWS opener and use Peja Goold (15-11, 2.45) in relief. Faircloth threw just 1⅓ innings, while Goold pitched for three.
Both could be options for the game against Texas, or Mississippi State could turn to breakout star Delainey Everett (3-1, 0.69 ERA).
Everett’s lone start this season was against Oklahoma in Game 3 of the super regionals. She gave the Sooners their first shutout since 2019 and held them to three hits.
Everett pitched four innings in Game 2 of last year’s regular season series against Texas. She gave up one run on two hits with four strikeouts in four innings as the Bulldogs’ starter in the 7-3 loss.
Mississippi State softball vs Texas WCWS prediction
Texas 3, Mississippi State 2: Even if the Bulldogs’ pitching staff can limit Texas, MSU’s offense seems to have cooled down considerably from its showing against Oklahoma in the super regionals.
2026 Women’s College World Series schedule
All times CT
- May 28
- Game 1: Texas Tech 8, Mississippi State 0
- Game 2: Tennessee 6, Texas 3
- Game 3: UCLA vs Alabama (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Game 4: Arkansas vs Nebraska (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
- May 29
- Game 5: Mississippi State vs Texas (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Game 6: Game 3 loser vs Game 4 loser (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
- May 30
- Game 7: Texas Tech vs Tennessee (2 p.m., ABC)
- Game 8: Game 3 winner vs Game 4 winner (6 p.m., ESPN)
- May 31
- Game 9: Game 5 winner vs Game 8 loser (2 p.m., ABC)
- Game 10: Game 6 winner vs Game 7 loser (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- June 1
- Game 11: Game 7 winner vs Game 9 winner (11 a.m., ESPN)
- Game 12 (if necessary): Game 7 winner vs Game 9 winner (1:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Game 13: Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Game 14 (if necessary): Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
- June 3
- Finals Game 1 (7 p.m., ESPN)
- June 4
- Finals Game 2 (7 p.m., ESPN)
- June 5
- If necessary, finals Game 3 (7 p.m., ESPN)
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
Check out how to watch the Gulf Breeze alum, who is part of a history making Mississippi State squad.
Blue Angels Super Hornet simulator unveiled at Naval Aviation Museum
Climb inside a Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet with us and take off in the new Fly with the Blues simulator at the National Naval Aviation Museum.
The Women’s College World Series begins May 28, and the Pensacola area will be represented on the biggest stage.
Gulf Breeze alumna Leila Ammon is part of a Mississippi State squad making its first WCWS appearance in school history and has played a role in getting the Bulldogs there.
Below is how to watch Ammon play if you aren’t in Oklahoma City, as well as how Ammon is part of history at Mississippi State.
How to watch Mississippi State in the WCWS
When: May 28-June 4/5
Where: OG & E Energy Field at Devon Park, Oklahoma City
Broadcast: ABC and ESPN
Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Fubo
Mississippi State will open up against Texas Tech on May 28 at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN. With a win, the Bulldogs will play the winner of Tennessee/Texas on May 30 at 2 p.m. CT on ABC. With a loss, they’ll play the loser of Tennessee/Texas in an elimination game on May 29 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
The last two teams standing will advance to a best 2-out-of-3 championship series scheduled for June 3-5 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. Check this page for more information on the WCWS bracket and schedule.
Mississippi State lost to Texas Tech twice in the Lubbock regional a year ago.
How did Mississippi State make history?
The Bulldogs are the only unseeded team out of eight in the WCWS field, which means they’re the only team in the field to have to win on the road in a regional and super regional to advance to Oklahoma City.
Mississippi State was ranked No. 13 in the NFCA poll on March 29, putting them in good position to host a regional with a strong finish to the season. The Bulldogs did the exact opposite, losing four of their last five regular season series.
But they flipped a switch in the NCAA Tournament. First, Mississippi State rolled through the Eugene regional, winning all three games by a score of 12-2, to advance to just their second super regional in program history.
Up next was a trip to perennial powerhouse Oklahoma in the super regional. However. the Bulldogs weren’t fazed, winning Game 1 of the best two-out-of-three series 11-9. After the Sooners won Game 2 7-1, Mississippi State won Game 3 6-0 to clinch their first ever WCWS appearance.
What role did Leila Ammon play?
While Ammon didn’t pitch in the regional, she helped stop the bleeding in Game 1 of the Super Regional.
She entered in the bottom of the third after Oklahoma had scored five runs in the inning to take a 5-1 lead. Ammon got the final two outs in the inning, then allowed a run in the fourth and pitched a scoreless fifth before being relieved with runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the sixth.
Both runners scored later in the inning, meaning Ammon allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out three in three innings pitched.
Ammon’s gone 8-0 this spring with a 1.85 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings pitched. She spent her freshman season at Middle Tennessee State, where she was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.
Before her college career, Ammon was the 2023 PNJ Pitcher of the Year and a 2024 First Team All-Area selection.
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