Get Ready! Total Lunar Eclipse on March 3 Can be Observed from Indonesia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian public will have the opportunity to witness one of the most astonishing astronomical phenomena this year. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has confirmed that a Total Lunar Eclipse (GBT) will occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. This natural phenomenon can be observed directly from various regions in Indonesia.

BMKG's Deputy for Geophysics, Nelly Florida Riama, stated that a Lunar Eclipse occurs due to the dynamic positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, which only happens during the full moon phase. A Total Lunar Eclipse specifically occurs when the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned in a straight line.

"This causes the Moon to fully enter the Earth's core shadow (umbra). This phenomenon presents a beautiful sight; if the sky is clear, the Moon will appear red at the peak of the eclipse," Nelly said in Jakarta on Monday, 2 March 2026.

Overall, the duration of the eclipse from the start of the eclipse phase to the end of the eclipse will take 5 hours, 41 minutes, and 51 seconds. The duration of the partial phase will last for 3 hours, 27 minutes, and 47 seconds. Meanwhile, the Totality phase where the Moon is completely in the Earth's umbra shadow will last for 59 minutes and 27 seconds.

If the sky is clear, people can see the Moon change color to red during the peak of the eclipse. This red color is the result of Rayleigh scattering in the Earth's atmosphere, where sunlight with short wavelengths (blue) is scattered, while light with long wavelengths (red) passes thru to reach the Moon's surface.

Acting Director of Technical Seismology, Potential Geophysics, and Time Signs, Fachri Radjab, explained that based on BMKG data, the Total Lunar Eclipse will begin at 18:03:56 WIB and reach its peak at 18:33:39 WIB, 19:33:39 WITA, and 20:33:39 WIT.

"This phenomenon will completely end at 21:24 WIB (or midnight in the WIT region) when the moon exits the Earth's penumbral shadow. The public is advised to find observation locations with minimal light pollution and a clear view of the sky toward the moonrise," he said.

The year 2026 is predicted to experience four eclipses, namely two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses. However, only the Total Lunar Eclipse on March 3, 2026, can be observed from Indonesia. Astronomically, this eclipse is the 27th member of the 71 members in the Saros series 133. This phenomenon previously occurred on February 21, 2008, and is predicted to reoccur on March 13, 2044.