March 2025 is bringing us not one but two eclipses visible from Canada! First up, a lunar eclipse on the night of March 13-14, followed by a partial solar eclipse on the morning of March 29.
Remember when we talked about eclipse seasons and how Earth experiences eclipses every six months or so? Well, here we are—two eclipse seasons after last year’s total solar eclipse—and we’re in for another celestial show this March!
Total Lunar Eclipse – March 13-14
On the night of March 13-14, the full moon will transform before our eyes, slowly slipping into Earth’s shadow and turning to a deep reddish hue for over an hour. This spectacular event will be visible across Canada, though for much of the country, it will unfold in the middle of the night.
A lunar eclipse happens in stages over a few hours:
The penumbral eclipse begins as the Moon enters Earth’s outer shadow, or penumbra. This part is subtle and not easily visible.
The partial eclipse is when things get exciting— the Moon will appear to be missing a part as it enters Earth’s shadow. This will take over an hour to happen.
Then comes the main event: totality! The Moon will be fully immersed in shadow, appearing much darker and taking on an orange-red hue. For this eclipse, totality will last over an hour.
Then the Moon will slowly leave Earth's shadow on the other side, creating the partial phases of the eclipse for another hour or so.
A lunar eclipse is visible from everywhere at the same time. Here are the main times for the Eastern and Pacific time zones. Simply convert for other time zones.
Eastern Time | Pacific Time | |
Partial eclipse begins | 1:09am (March 14) | 10:09pm (March 13) |
Total eclipse | 2:26am - 3:32am | 11:26pm - 12:32am |
Partial eclipse ends | 4:48am | 1:48am (March 14) |
Up for a late-night cosmic adventure? This will be a breathtaking sight worth staying up (or setting an alarm) for! And the best part? No special equipment needed—just step outside and enjoy.
Partial Solar Eclipse – March 29
Just two weeks later, the Moon will return to centre stage, passing between the Earth and the Sun for a partial solar eclipse. This one will be visible mainly in the East and North of Canada, offering an incredible sunrise spectacle!
Unlike last year’s total eclipse, this one won’t reach totality anywhere on Earth—but it’s still a fantastic event to catch. Because it happens at sunrise, the visibility map looks quite different, with the eclipse cutting off abruptly to the west. Visit Time and Date to find other times in other locations.
Key details for select cities:
% Sun hidden by the Moon at the Maximum | Beginning of the Partial Eclipse | Sunrise | Maximum | End of Partial Eclipse | |
Iqaluit (NU) | 92% | Sun below the horizon | 6:02am | 6:51am | 7:48am |
Clyde River (NU) | 89% | 6:09am | -- | 7:03am | 8:00am |
Salluit (QC) | 93% | Sun below the horizon | 6:33am | 6:49am | 7:44am |
Happy Valley-Goose Bay (NL) | 89% | Sun below the horizon | 6:42 | 7:33 | 8:30 |
St. John’s (NL) | 83% | 6:58am | -- | 7:53am | 8:52am |
Moncton (NB) | 85% | Sun below the horizon | 7:04am | 7:20am | 8:15am |
Québec (QC) | 72% | Sun below the horizon | 6:29am | 6:33am | 7:16am |
Montréal (QC) | 47% | Sun below the horizon | 6:40am | 6:43am | 7:13am |
Ottawa (ON) | 30% | Sun below the horizon | 6:48am | 6:51am | 7:13am |
Toronto (ON) | Eclipse not visible |
You will have to get up early on Saturday morning, but early risers in Nunavik, Labrador and eastern Nunavut are in for a stunning sunrise eclipse!
How to Observe the Partial Solar Eclipse Safely
Never look directly at the Sun! But don’t worry —there are safe and easy ways to enjoy the show:
Got eclipse glasses from last year? First check them for any damage, and then you’re all set!
Get creative with projections! Use a pinhole or colander to project the Sun’s image onto a surface. Bonus: You can make fun crescent-shaped patterns!
Eclipses are a magical reminder of our place in the universe. Whether you’re staying up late for the lunar eclipse or waking up early for the solar one, March is shaping up to be an amazing month for skywatching. Don’t miss out!
Bring eclipses into the classroom:
Google Slides with info on both eclipses (coming soon!)
Revisit our 2024 solar eclipse page for more resources