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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.