‘Blood moon,’ start of spring & more in store for Washington state. Here’s when
Sky watchers across Washington state will have multiple opportunities to spot something special at night during the month of March.
The Evergreen State is home to some of the best spots for stargazing in the nation, McClatchy Media previously reported.
The end of February featured a planetary parade, a rare astronomical event showcasing six planets in the night sky.
Several noteworthy astronomical events are coming up in March, including a total lunar eclipse and the start of spring.
What’s the best time to see full moon in March 2026?
The third full moon of 2026 will reach peak illumination at 3:37 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, according to online calendar Time and Date.
The new moon falls on Wednesday, March 18, the site said.
Why is March’s full moon called the worm moon?
The March full moon is known as the worm moon because earthworms begin to appear around this time in the Northern Hemisphere, according to Time and Date.
Other names for March’s full moon similarly “reflect the transition from winter to spring,” according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
They include the sugar moon, wind strong moon, goose moon and crow comes back moon.
When will total lunar eclipse be visible in Washington state?
March’s full moon coincides with a total lunar eclipse that will be visible on the West Coast and the rest of North America just before sunset on Tuesday, March 3, according to NASA.
“Lunar eclipses occur when Earth is positioned precisely between the moon and sun — shading the moon in Earth’s shadow,” NASA said.
That shadow causes the moon to take on a deep red color, inspiring the nickname “blood moon.”
According to Time and Date, Washington state will have a partial view of the total lunar eclipse beginning around 1:50 a.m. on March 3.
The full view of the blood moon will start just after 3 a.m., with partial views lasting through 5:17 a.m.
The last time a total lunar eclipse was visible in the night sky above Washington state was March 2025, McClatchy Media previously reported.
When does daylight saving time begin in 2026?
Daylight saving time starts across most of the United States on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday in November, according to Time and Date.
Prepare to set your clocks and watches forward one hour on Sunday, March 8.
The time change takes place at 2 a.m., which will become 3 a.m.
Can I see Venus, Saturn together in Washington night sky?
According to the Planetary Society, Venus and Saturn will appear close together in the night sky on March 8.
The planets will appear roughly one degree from each other, about the width of a thumb held at arm’s length, according to the Planetary Society.
Unfortunately, the conjunction won’t be visible in the West Coast. The planets will reach their highest point in the sky while it’s still light out in Washington state.
Once darkness rolls around, Venus and Saturn will be too close to the horizon to view.
When is the first day of spring?
In 2026, the vernal equinox falls on Friday, March 20.
By astronomical definitions, the equinox marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
During the March equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere receive roughly the same amount of sunlight since neither hemisphere is tilted more toward or away from the sun, the Old Farmer’s Almanac said.
Meteorologically, the first day of spring will be Sunday, March 1.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "‘Blood moon,’ start of spring & more in store for Washington state. Here’s when."