Astrophotography in March 2026: a spectacular blood moon during Northern Light season is the highlight for night photographers this month

A lunar eclipse takes place above Prelude Lake while the Aurora Borealis puts on a show, in this composite image from Prelude Lake Territorial Park, Northwest Territories, Canada. — The total lunar eclipse on March 3 occurs during peak aurora season (Image credit: Getty Images)

March 2026 will contain great riches for astrophotographers, with the undoubted highlight — at least for those in western North America, Australia, New Zealand and Eastern Asia — being a total lunar eclipse.

Everyone will see the crescent moon glide gracefully past both Jupiter and the Pleiades, while those in the Northern Hemisphere will get great seasonal views of constellations (including Orion, Taurus, Canis Major, and Auriga) and deep-sky objects (such as Orion Nebula, Crab Nebula, M36, M37 and M38) before they begin to depart the post-sunset sky until September. March is also when the northern lights can be at their most intense.

Read: When to photograph the moon

Tuesday, March 3: A full Worm Moon and a total lunar eclipse

For astrophotographers in western North America, the early hours of Tuesday, 3 March, promise to be among the most exciting of the year. The last total lunar eclipse until New Year’s Eve in 2028 will see the moon’s surface turn a copper-reddish color during a 58-minute-long totality visible on the entire night-side of Earth (though Europe misses out entirely, and eastern North America sees only the penumbral and partial phases).

The picturesque totality — the effect of thousands of sunsets projected onto the lunar surface — can be imaged using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, together with a 300mm telephoto lens on a tripod (though 600mm is better).

Plan your shot using apps and websites such as Photo Ephemeris, PhotoPills and Planit Pro if you want to align the eclipsed moon with a foreground feature. Here are the times for totality across North America, though the preceding partial phases are worth watching an hour before:

Read: How to photograph a lunar eclipse

March 11 - 22: Dark sky window opens

The moon reaches its last quarter phase tonight, rising around midnight. It makes the next seven nights — through the new moon on 18 March — perfect for dark skies and deep-sky astrophotography, with no bright moonlight until around 22 March.

Read: Astrophotography: How-to guides, tips and videos

Friday, 20 March: Vernal equinox

The main pyramid of the Chichen Itza ruins complex with the sun rising in the background and a group of visitors walking in the foreground, in Yucat&aacute;n, Mexico — Catch the “descent of the serpent” at Chichén Itzá, Mexico. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Today is the vernal equinox, when the sun is above the equator somewhere on Earth. A global event, it occurs at 09:46 a.m. EST in North America. Equinox means equal hours of day and night (qui is Latin for equal, nox for night) across the globe, and the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

It may not seem like a celestial occasion for astrophotography, but the sunrise and sunset on the equinox have been meaningful events for humans for many thousands of years. For those willing to travel, there are several events to capture on the vernal equinox:

Read: 10 must-shoot events for astrophotographers in 2026

Friday, March 20: crescent moon and Venus

Venus and crescent moon next to each other — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Look west tonight for the lovely sight of a super-slender 4%-illuminated waxing crescent moon just above a bright Venus. Now coming into its own, Venus will become a popular post-sunset object in the months ahead. Here, it will be seen only by those with a low horizon — and the moon will take some finding.

Read: The best star tracker camera mounts

March 22-23: Pleiades and a crescent moon

Tonight is a great opportunity to find an 18%-illuminated waxing crescent moon shining just below the Pleiades or “Seven Sisters,” an open star cluster also known as M45. The two can be found in the southwestern sky for a few hours after sunset.

Your camera should detect Earthshine, a faint glow visible on the moon's dark limb — sunlight reflected by Earth onto the moon. Come back the following evening for a 25%-illuminated waxing crescent moon just above the Pleiades, though Earthshine may be harder to spot as the moon brightens.

Read: The best cameras for astrophotography

March 25-26: Jupiter and the first quarter moon

On Wednesday morning, January 30, 2019, the bright planet Jupiter was captured traveling under the lower left of the illuminated Waning Crescent Moon posing for astronomers, astrologists, and photographers to create a stunning planetary scene. — Conjunction of Jupiter and the moon (Image credit: Getty Images)

Visible in the south just after sunset will be the first-quarter moon beside bright planet Jupiter, a two-night conjunction best photographed with a tripod, a mirrorless or DSLR camera and a 300mm lens.

• The best lenses for astrophotography

• The best star tracker camera mounts

• The best light pollution filters

Jamie has been writing about photography, astronomy, astro-tourism and astrophotography for over 20 years, producing content for Forbes.com, Space.com, Live Science, Techradar, T3, BBC Wildlife, Science Focus, New Scientist, Sky & Telescope, BBC Sky At Night, South China Morning Post, The Guardian, The Telegraph and Travel+Leisure.

As the editor of When Is The Next Eclipse and author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners, he has a wealth of experience, expertise and enthusiasm for astrophotography, from capturing the Northern Lights, the moon and meteor showers to solar and lunar eclipses.

He also brings a great deal of knowledge on action cameras, 360 cameras, AI cameras, camera backpacks, telescopes, gimbals, tripods and all manner of photography equipment.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.