In a lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow — called the umbra — blocks the sun's light from hitting the full moon, resulting in a dimmer moon with a distinct red and orange cast. It's also called a blood moon.

The next lunar eclipse will be a total lunar eclipse overnight on March 13-14, 2025. It is the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022. The total lunar eclipse will be visible over North America, and most of South America. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon will appear to take on a red hue, giving rise to the " Blood Moon ".

Clouds drifted in and out of the D.C. area before dawn Friday, offering enough open sky for photographers around the region to capture views of the total lunar eclipse. The spectacle began at 11:57 p.