Is it a full moon tonight? Here’s when the lunar eclipse will be in totality for Californians

Californians, get ready to experience a total lunar eclipse late Thursday night, one that could transform March’s “Worm Moon” into a coppery hue.

The lunar eclipse will occur the night of Thursday, March 13, and into early Friday, March 14, for those in Pacific Daylight Time. It occurs during the next full moon, the Worm Moon, which will reach peak illumination just before midnight, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

However, you may hear people refer to this full moon as a blood moon.

Here’s what to know about when to see the lunar eclipse, viewing conditions, whether you need glasses to view it and the full moon.

What happens during a total lunar eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves into the inner part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra, said NASA, where all direct sunlight is blocked.

Earth is “positioned precisely between the moon and sun,” and its shadow “falls upon the surface of the moon, dimming it and sometimes turning the lunar surface a striking red over the course of a few hours,” according to NASA.

The moon appears a red, coppery hue due to how light passes through Earth’s atmosphere. 

“Shorter wavelengths of sunlight, like blue, are scattered by the atmosphere, so by the time the light has finished its trip to the moon, more of the longer wavelengths, like red, are left over,” said NASA.

However, the moon may not always appear red. It may appear orange, brown, golden, yellow, or a combination of these colors, according to Astronomy Magazine. Clouds, dust, and ash, among other things in the atmosphere, can change how much light is refracted into the inner part of Earth’s shadow, meaning the appearance of the moon during a total lunar eclipse can vary, according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

What time will the lunar eclipse happen in California?

Totality will begin at 11:26 p.m. PDT on March 13 and end at 12:31 a.m. PDT on March 14, according to NASA.

Will I be able to see the lunar eclipse in California?

All U.S. states will have some ability to see the total solar eclipse or "blood moon." However, not all of California may have clear, cloudless skies at the time of the lunar eclipse.

Most of Northern California north of Sacramento is forecasted to have a high percentage of clouds covering the sky as of 11 p.m. Thursday, according to a National Weather Service forecast map.

Portions of the Central Valley, such as Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield, face higher percentages of clouds in the night sky as well.

Going south along the Nevada border, cloudiness conditions improve for Californians as of 11 p.m. Thursday.

The percentage of clouds covering Southern California skies, including along the coast south of San Luis Obispo, varies a bit, but it’s generally less cloudy skies compared to Northern California.

Ventura and Los Angeles are forecasted to have 20% or less clouds covering the sky as of 11 p.m. Thursday. But more clouds are expected in a few pockets of San Diego County.

AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines told USA TODAY Tuesday that the worst places to see the eclipse will likely be in the Far West and the Rockies, among other regions, where cloud cover is forecast to be extensive.

“A massive storm moving in from the Pacific is expected to spread rain, mountain snow, and clouds across the West Coast, Rocky Mountains, and northern Plains, making it challenging to see the total lunar eclipse,” AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Lada said.

However, because the total lunar eclipse lasts for more than an hour, you’ll only “need a few breaks in the clouds” to see the eclipse, Lada said.

What’s a blood moon?

Lunar eclipses are often called “blood moons” because of the color they take on, USA TODAY reported.

What is a Worm Moon?

March’s full moon is not exclusively known as the Worm Moon and may be referred to as the Eagle Moon, Goose Moon, Sugar Moon, and more, according to the almanac. One explanation of the Worm Moon name is due to beetle larvae that would begin to emerge from the thawing bark of trees and “other winter hideouts at this time,” the almanac reported.

Do you need glasses for a lunar eclipse?

No, you don’t need any special eyewear to stare up at the total lunar eclipse like you did the total solar eclipse last April. However, you should hope for clear skies, and in parts of California that may be less likely.

USA TODAY reporter Doyle Rice contributed to this article.

Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.