Skywatchers worldwide witnessed a dramatic total lunar eclipse early on March 3, 2026, as Earth’s shadow fully enveloped the full Worm Moon, transforming it into a striking copper-red “blood moon” for nearly an hour during totality.

The event, the first and only total lunar eclipse of 2026, unfolded across multiple continents with prime visibility in North America (early morning), the Pacific, eastern Asia, Australia and New Zealand (evening hours). It marked the last total lunar eclipse visible from much of the globe until the New Year’s Eve event spanning Dec. 31, 2028–Jan. 1, 2029.

Phases began with the penumbral eclipse at 8:44 UTC (3:44 a.m. EST), when the Moon dipped into Earth’s faint outer shadow. The partial phase followed at 9:50 UTC (4:50 a.m. EST), as the darker umbral shadow began creeping across the lunar disk. Totality commenced at 11:04 UTC (6:04 a.m. EST), peaked at maximum eclipse 11:33 UTC (6:33 a.m. EST) with an umbral magnitude of 1.1507, and concluded at 12:02 UTC (7:02 a.m. EST). The full eclipse wrapped at 14:23 UTC (9:23 a.m. EST), lasting over 5 hours and 39 minutes overall, with 58 minutes and 19 seconds of totality.

In North America, viewers on the East Coast saw the Moon low on the western horizon as totality began around sunrise, with the blood-red hue visible briefly before moonset in places like New York and Washington, D.C. (totality roughly 6:04–7:02 a.m. EST). Western regions enjoyed higher lunar positions throughout, with clearer, longer views. In Chicago and New Orleans, the penumbral phase started around 2:44 a.m. CST, partial at 3:50 a.m. CST, and totality from 5:04–6:02 a.m. CST. Pacific time zones caught the event earlier, with totality peaking around 3:33 a.m. PST.

Eastern Asia, Australia and New Zealand experienced the eclipse in evening skies. In Sydney, the Moon rose already partially eclipsed, with totality unfolding under dark conditions. Observers in Christchurch, New Zealand, streamed views starting around 9:30 p.m. NZT, capturing the transition to red as partial phases progressed.

The characteristic red coloration arose from sunlight refracting through Earth’s atmosphere, scattering blue light and allowing longer red wavelengths to illuminate the Moon — a process akin to why sunsets appear orange. Weather permitting, the eclipse appeared deep copper or brick-red, varying by atmospheric conditions and viewer location.

Live coverage proliferated online as millions tuned in. Timeanddate.com streamed the event from multiple global sites, offering real-time animations, maps and commentary. The Virtual Telescope Project broadcast high-resolution views, collaborating with imagers in Australia, Hawaii and California. AfarTV provided 4K footage capturing the Moon’s shift from bright full to deep red. Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles hosted an online broadcast from midnight to dawn PST, while Associated Press and other outlets delivered visuals from Yucca Valley, Calif., and western Australia. NASA-affiliated streams and Fox Weather offered expert analysis alongside viewer-submitted photos.

Early images flooded social media and astronomy sites. Captures from New Zealand showed Earth’s curved shadow advancing across lunar maria during partial phases. Manila observers photographed the rising full moon mid-eclipse, while Dunedin Astronomical Society images highlighted the dramatic darkening. Post-totality galleries on Space.com showcased breathtaking blood moon portraits, with photographers praising the event’s clarity in clear-sky regions.

No special equipment was required — the eclipse was safely viewable with the naked eye, binoculars or telescopes enhancing details like subtle color variations and crater visibility. Tripod-mounted cameras with long exposures captured stunning stills. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar events pose no eye-safety risks.

The eclipse coincided with the March full moon, traditionally called the Worm Moon for emerging earthworms in thawing soil. It occurred near the Moon’s descending node with an average apparent diameter, 6.7 days after perigee and 6.9 days before apogee.

Astronomers noted the event’s significance as a rare celestial alignment visible to billions. Umbral magnitude 1.1507 indicated a relatively deep eclipse, with the Moon well within the umbra for pronounced reddening.

As totality concluded, the Moon gradually brightened through partial and penumbral phases. In many North American locations, the final stages occurred after sunrise, limiting visibility to early risers or those with western views.

With no total lunar eclipse until late 2028, this March 3 spectacle served as a highlight for 2026 astronomy enthusiasts. Clear skies across key regions allowed widespread enjoyment, from urban rooftops to remote observatories.

Live streams and archived footage remain available for those who missed it, preserving the awe-inspiring views of Earth’s shadow dancing across its natural satellite.

Hoda Niku, an Iranian-born model and influencer based in South Korea, has strongly criticized her homeland’s regime as tyrannical and violent in the wake of recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, questioning the government’s nuclear intentions and highlighting its history of repression against its own people.

Niku, who placed third in the 2018 Miss Iran pageant and has built a significant following in Korea as a model, TV personality, Pilates instructor and social media creator with over 530,000 Instagram followers (@hoda_niku), posted her remarks on Instagram on March 3, 2026. Her comments came days after the joint U.S.-Israeli operation “Epic Fury” targeted Iranian military sites, government facilities and leadership, reportedly killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and causing hundreds of casualties.

In her statement, Niku addressed questions from followers about Iranian reactions to the attacks. “People ask me why the Iranian people seem happy about the war and the bombing of our own country,” she wrote, according to translations from Korean media outlets including Chosun Biz and Maeil Business Newspaper. She countered that many Iranians view the regime — not the nation itself — as the true adversary.

Niku pointed to the government’s brutal crackdowns, referencing reports of around 40,000 deaths in recent protests and suppressions. “If a regime has killed 40,000 of its own people, how can we believe it would use nuclear weapons peacefully?” she asked rhetorically, challenging claims that Iran’s nuclear program serves defensive or civilian purposes. She described the regime’s actions as tyrannical, emphasizing its oppression of citizens seeking freedom and democracy.

The post aligns with Niku’s longstanding activism. In January 2026, she posted a viral video titled “For Iran’s Freedom,” speaking in Korean to urge South Koreans and the international community to support anti-government protests in Iran amid deadly crackdowns and internet blackouts. She condemned what she called a “massacre” of demonstrators and appealed for global attention, saying even symbolic support strengthens those fighting for change.

Her latest criticism reflects a broader sentiment among some in the Iranian diaspora. Reports from NPR and other outlets indicate mixed reactions among Iranians abroad and inside the country, with some anti-regime voices expressing relief or cautious hope that strikes could weaken the government, despite civilian suffering. In Los Angeles, home to a large Iranian community, some celebrated the attacks as long-overdue retaliation for decades of repression, while others expressed sorrow over civilian deaths, including reports of a girls’ school hit during the strikes.

The U.S.-Israeli campaign, launched late February 2026 after stalled nuclear talks, has escalated into ongoing exchanges. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on U.S. interests and allies across the Middle East, including attacks on facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel. Oil prices surged, airspace closed and global markets reacted with volatility.

In South Korea, where Niku has lived and worked since studying there, her voice carries particular resonance. She has appeared on programs like KBS’s “My Neighbor, Charles” and built a career in modeling, acting and wellness content. Her bilingual posts — often in Korean and Persian — bridge her two homes, allowing her to reach diverse audiences.

Korean media amplified her March 3 statement. Chosun Biz headlined its coverage “Miss Iran model in South Korea questions Iran regime’s nuclear intent,” noting her query about peaceful nuclear use given the regime’s domestic violence record. Asia Economic and Maeil Kyungje reported her direct criticism of the regime’s oppressive nature, with one outlet quoting her reflection: “Why would we be happy about our own country being bombed?” — underscoring that joy, if present, targets the government, not fellow citizens.

Niku’s activism fits a pattern among Iranian expatriates opposing the Islamic Republic. She has consistently condemned crackdowns, including those following mass protests, and advocated for freedom and democracy. Her platform in Korea — a country with its own history of authoritarian rule transitioning to democracy — adds symbolic weight to her calls.

The Iranian Embassy in Seoul condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes as “war crimes” and “blatant aggression” on March 3, urging international accountability. North Korea also denounced the attacks as violations of sovereignty, aligning with anti-U.S. rhetoric from allied states.

As the conflict continues into its second week, with Trump administration officials signaling prolonged operations to neutralize threats, voices like Niku’s highlight internal Iranian divisions. While regime supporters decry foreign intervention, dissidents and exiles argue it exposes the government’s vulnerabilities.

Niku has not indicated plans for further public actions but continues posting wellness and lifestyle content alongside occasional advocacy. Her March 3 message, shared amid escalating regional violence, underscores ongoing debates over Iran’s future and the role of external pressure in regime change discussions.

For many Iranians abroad, including those in Seoul’s growing expatriate community, her words serve as a reminder that opposition to the regime persists — even as bombs fall and the world watches.

More than 650,000 plastic bottles of water are being recalled, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Wisconsin-based Valley Springs Artesian Gold LLC is recalling six of its products after they were bottled under “insanitary conditions,” according to the FDA enforcement report. The recall of 651,148 bottles of water was initiated Feb. 6.

On Feb. 26, the FDA classified it a Class II recall, which the agency describes as an instance when the “use or exposure to a product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”

CHEESE SOLD AT WALMART RECALLED IN 24 STATES OVER POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK

More than 650,000 water bottles are being recalled after they were bottled under “insanitary conditions.” (iStock)

The products involved in the recall are:

• Valley Springs 1-gallon 100% Natural Bottled Water (UPC 0 31193-00701 9)
• Valley Springs 2.5-gallon 100% Natural Bottled Water (UPC 0 31193-01501 4)
• Valley Springs 1-gallon Infant Water – “Not sterile. Use as directed by physician or by labeling directions for use of infant formula” – (UPC 0 31193-01401 7)

LIFE-THREATENING LISTERIA RISK PROMPTS MASSIVE FROZEN BLUEBERRY RECALL ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES

The recalled products were distributed in Illinois and Wisconsin. (Getty Images)

METAL FRAGMENTS FOUND IN FROZEN MEATBALLS SOLD AT ALDI STORES NATIONWIDE PROMPTS RECALL

• Valley Springs 1-gallon Daisy’s Doggy Water – “100% Pure Water. No Chlorine” – UPC 0 31193-90100 3
• Valley Springs 1-gallon 100% Natural Bottled Water – “Fluoride Added” – UPC 0 31193-01301 0
• Valley Springs 1-gallon Steamed Distilled Water (UPC 0 31193-00601 2)

The Food and Drug Administration classified it as a Class II recall. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

The recalled water bottles were distributed in Illinois and Wisconsin, according to the enforcement report.

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