FREE Public Astronomy Observation on the Neckers building south west lawn.
11:59pm CT, Thursday, March 13, 2025 –
2:30am, Friday, March 14, 2025

A total lunar eclipse will be visible over most of the Americas on March 13 and 14, 2025. Often referred to as a Blood Moon, the Moon will appear to go through different phases this evening and turn a deep orange / red color for about 1 hour during totality from roughly 1:30 am – 2:30am CT. It is at this time that the earth blocks direct light from the Sun and we see light refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere projected on the Moon. It is for this reason that the Moon appears the color of a sunset, the exact color depending on the amount of particles or dust in the atmosphere at the time of the eclipse.

The public is invited to join members of the SIU School of Physics, the STEM Education Research Center, the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois and the Adler Planetarium this evening on the southwest side of the Neckers building for free, guided telescope viewings and special activities during peak eclipse hours from midnight to 2:30am.