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March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse — Christchurch, New Zealand (Ōtautahi)

Mar 4, 2026 at 12:33 am
Max View in Christchurch, Canterbury
Global Event: Total Lunar Eclipse
Local Type: Total Lunar Eclipse in Christchurch, Canterbury
Begins: Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 9:44 pm
Maximum: Wed, Mar 4, 2026 at 12:33 am 1.150 Magnitude
Ends: Wed, Mar 4, 2026 at 3:23 am
Duration: 5 hours, 39 minutes

All times shown on this page are local time.

Location

March 3–4, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse — Christchurch

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The animation shows what the eclipse approximately looks like in Christchurch. Stages and times of the eclipse are outlined below. All times are local time (NZDT) for Christchurch.

TimePhaseEventDirectionAltitude
9:44 pm Tue, Mar 3
Penumbral Eclipse begins The Earth's penumbra start touching the Moon's face.Map direction East-northeast 61°
16.5°
10:50 pm Tue, Mar 3
Partial Eclipse begins Partial moon eclipse starts - moon is getting red.Map direction Northeast 48°
26.2°
12:04 am Wed, Mar 4
Total Eclipse begins Total moon eclipse starts - completely red moon.Map direction North-northeast 29°
34.7°
12:33 am Wed, Mar 4
Maximum Eclipse Moon is closest to the center of the shadow.Map direction North-northeast 21°
37.1°
1:02 am Wed, Mar 4
Total Eclipse ends Total moon eclipse ends.Map direction North-northeast 12°
38.7°
2:17 am Wed, Mar 4
Partial Eclipse ends Partial moon eclipse ends.Map direction North 349°
39.2°
3:23 am Wed, Mar 4
Penumbral Eclipse ends The Earth's penumbra ends.Map direction North-northwest 329°
35.4°

How to use altitude & direction to find in the sky

The curvature of the shadow's path and the apparent rotation of the Moon's disk is due to the Earth's rotation.

This total lunar eclipse is fully visible in Christchurch. The total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a blood moon, as the Moon turns red.

Cloud Coverage (Mar 3–4)

In the past, this day was cloudy 61% of the time (since 2000).

Countdown until eclipse begins

673Days 7Hrs 9Mins 34Secs

Christchurch Eclipse Countdown

Lunar Eclipses

  1. When Is the Next Lunar Eclipse?
  2. Total Lunar Eclipse
  3. Why Does the Moon Turn Red?
  4. Partial Lunar Eclipse
  5. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
  6. Can I See a Lunar Eclipse?
  7. Blood Moon - Total Lunar Eclipse
  8. Eclipse Seasons
  9. What Is a Tetrad?
  10. Magnitude of Eclipses
  11. Accuracy of Our Eclipse Calculations
  12. Why Two Dates for a Lunar Eclipse?

Eclipses

Eclipses and Transits Visible in Christchurch

Eclipse Visibility From ChristchurchVisibility Worldwide
Mar 14, 2025 Total Lunar EclipseTotal Lunar Eclipse
Sep 8, 2025 Total Lunar EclipseTotal Lunar Eclipse
Sep 22, 2025 Partial Solar EclipsePartial Solar Eclipse
Mar 3–4, 2026 Total Lunar EclipseTotal Lunar Eclipse
Aug 28, 2026 Penumbral Lunar EclipsePartial Lunar Eclipse

Note: Click on the date link for details in Christchurch, or the path map image for global details. Currently shown eclipse is highlighted.

Next annular eclipse visible in Christchurch

Other eclipses visible in Christchurch

Other eclipses worldwide

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