March 2025 is bringing two exciting eclipses—one lunar and one solar—but if you want to see both, you’ll need to do some traveling!
How Do Eclipses Work?
Eclipses happen when the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up in just the right way.
- A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. The Earth casts a shadow on the Moon, making it look dim or even turn red!
- A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out some (or all) of the Sun’s light.
Eclipses don’t happen every month because the Moon’s orbit is slightly tilted, so the Sun, Earth, and Moon don’t always line up perfectly.
The March 14–15 Lunar Eclipse: Fully Visible in Hamilton
On the night of March 14 into the early hours of March 15, we’ll get to see a total lunar eclipse in Hamilton! This means the entire Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow.
During totality (the period when the Moon is fully in shadow), the Moon will likely appear reddish because sunlight bends through Earth’s atmosphere and scatters, much like how sunsets look red.
Key Times (All Times in EDT)
🌕 Prenumbral (light shadow) eclipse begins: 11:57 PM March 14
🌑 Umbral (dark shadow) eclipse begins: 1:09 AM March 15
🔴 Maximum eclipse (deepest red color): 2:26 AM
🌕 Total eclipse ends: 3:32 AM
🌕 Umbral eclipse ends: 4:48 AM
This is a late-night event, but if the skies are clear, it’ll be worth staying up for!
The March 29 Solar Eclipse: Just Misses Hamilton!
Unlike the total solar eclipse in April 2024, Hamilton won’t see any part of the Sun covered during the March 29, 2025 solar eclipse. However, if you’re willing to travel, you can still catch a partial eclipse!
The closest place to see it is the east end of Toronto, where the Moon will cover about 3% of the Sun at its peak during sunrise. The further east you go, the more of the Sun will be covered. While this isn’t a dramatic eclipse, it’s still an interesting astronomical event.
Where & When to See the Eclipse
🔭 Hamilton – No eclipse visible
🔭 Toronto – About 3% of the Sun covered at sunrise
Since this eclipse happens early in the day, finding a clear eastern horizon will be key. Observing from a high point or near Lake Ontario would give the best view.
Eclipse Safety Reminder
Never look directly at the Sun without proper solar eclipse glasses or a solar filter for a telescope. Regular sunglasses won’t protect your eyes!
Remembering Hamilton’s Recent Eclipses
Hamilton has been lucky with eclipses in the past few years! You might remember:
- The partial lunar eclipse in November 2021, when most of the Moon was covered by Earth’s shadow.
- The total lunar eclipse in May 2022, where the Moon turned deep red.
- The total solar eclipse in April 2024, during which Hamilton enjoyed approximately 2 minutes of totality!
Final Thoughts
March 2025 is giving us two eclipses, but only one is fully visible from Hamilton. Make sure to set a reminder for March 14–15 to see the total lunar eclipse—and if you’re curious about the solar eclipse, be sure to grab some eclipse glasses to catch the partial view!
