Sri Lankans will have the opportunity to witness a lunar eclipse on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies announced.
Although the event is classified as a total lunar eclipse, it will appear as a partial lunar eclipse in Sri Lanka. This is because the Moon will be below the horizon during the total phase of the eclipse.
As a result, the total phase — when the Moon is completely covered by the Earth’s shadow — will not be visible locally. When the Moon rises above the eastern horizon at 6:21 p.m., a portion of it will still be covered by the Earth’s shadow, allowing observers to witness the concluding partial phase of the eclipse.
The key timings of the eclipse according to Sri Lanka Standard Time are as follows:
- Penumbral eclipse begins – 2:14 p.m. (not visible)
- Partial eclipse begins – 3:20 p.m. (below the horizon)
- Total eclipse begins – 4:34 p.m. (below the horizon)
- Maximum eclipse – 5:03 p.m. (below the horizon)
- Total eclipse ends – 5:32 p.m. (below the horizon)
- Moonrise – 6:21 p.m.
- Partial eclipse ends – 6:47 p.m.
- Penumbral eclipse ends – 7:53 p.m.
The institute has advised the public to choose a cloud-free location with a clear and unobstructed view of the eastern horizon to obtain the best view of the eclipse.
In connection with the announcement, the institute also released an image of the partial phase of the total lunar eclipse visible in Sri Lanka on September 7, 2025, captured by Mr. Heshan Gunasekara of its Astronomy Division.
