• A total lunar eclipse, also known as a “blood moon,” will occur Thursday night into Friday morning.
• The eclipse will begin at 11:57 p.m. Thursday and end around 6 a.m. Friday, with peak viewing time around 3 a.m.
• Tallahassee residents have a 50% chance of viewing the eclipse due to incoming severe weather and cloud cover.
• The moon will appear a reddish-orange color as sunlight is filtered through the Earth’s atmosphere.

A rare “blood moon” is set to make an appearance tonight and will be visible across the North American sky.

But viewing the total lunar eclipse could be rarer for folks in Tallahassee with incoming severe weather bringing in rain clouds Thursday evening and thunderstorms lasting through the weekend.

Safety glasses are not needed to view the lunar eclipse, but clear or partly cloudy skies with the moon visible are a must.

An update on Tallahassee’s viewing chances

With the storm system approaching from the west, Tallahassee is expected to get up to 45 to 55% cloud cover which will “increase throughout the night,” according to National Weather Service meteorologist Kristian Oliver.

That means there is a 50% chance the eclipse won’t be visible in Tallahassee, but from an optimistic perspective, there’s also a 50% chance of viewability for the capital city.

“If there’s a break in the clouds you’ll be able to see something,” he said.

Oliver warned that even though the round of storms and showers Thursday evening will have passed by the time the eclipse begins, the rain could lead to patchy fog which could complicate plans for those hoping for a lunar light show.

He noted, however, that the clouds could become more upper level and wispy, which could make for easier viewing.

What is a total lunar eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes into the deepest part of the earth’s shadow, which is called the umbra, according to NASA.

When is the total lunar eclipse?

The 2025 total lunar eclipse will begin at 11:57 p.m. on Thursday in Tallahassee and end about 6 a.m. Friday. Optimal viewing time will be about 3 a.m. Friday.

What will it look like?

The moon will be dim due to the shadow cast onto it from the earth.

But it will have a red-orange color, as sunlight is filtered through earth’s atmosphere and projected onto the moon, which is why the rare event is often called a “blood moon.”

Alaijah Brown covers children & families, and occasionally, astronomical events, for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at[email protected]. Follow her on Twitter/X:@AlaijahBrown3.