Today, 3 March 2026, the night sky over the island will turn a deep crimson. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is promising a rare astronomical show — a total lunar eclipse. In Bali, viewing conditions will be among the best in the country, but it’s important to note that the Moon will rise when the eclipse is already under way.
The partial eclipse will begin at 19:03 Bali time (WITA). At that moment, the Moon will only just be appearing above the horizon, so the first minutes of the phase may not be visible from the island. The peak will be at 20:33, and the Moon will remain in Earth’s full shadow for almost an hour. The entire cycle, including the end of the penumbral phase, will finish at around 22:20. The eclipse will last about five and a half hours in total — from the first faint dimming to the end of the penumbral phase.
This happens when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up in a straight line. The red hue appears because the atmosphere scatters short blue wavelengths of light, while the longer red wavelengths travel further and light up the Moon. This creates the blood moon effect.
Professor Thomas Djamaluddin from BRIN highlights how rare the event is. The totality phase, he says, will last longer than usual this time, and a similar eclipse will not occur again until 31 December 2028.
To see the blood moon, choose a dark spot with an open view to the east. A beach without floodlights is the ideal option. Light from beach clubs can spoil the experience, as can clouds. The main thing is to keep the eastern part of the sky clear.
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