The night sky put on a spectacular show on March 13 and 14, as a total lunar eclipse cast its mesmerizing glow over Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Often called a “blood moon” due to the deep reddish hue the moon takes on during totality, the celestial event was captured by Niagara Now’s award-winning photographer Dave Van de Laar — from the unique vantage point of his own driveway.

The eclipse unfolded over several hours, beginning just before midnight on Thursday, March 13. The penumbral phase started at approximately 11:57 p.m. EDT, followed by the partial eclipse at 1:09 a.m. on Friday, March 14. The total eclipse, when the moon was fully immersed in Earth’s shadow, began at 2:26 a.m., reaching its peak at 2:58 a.m. Totality lasted until 3:31 a.m., with the partial eclipse ending at 4:47 a.m. and the final penumbral phase concluding around 6 a.m.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth aligns directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. The deep red or orange tint of a blood moon results from sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere — similar to the way sunsets appear vibrant.

Interestingly, March’s full moon is traditionally known as the “worm moon,” signalling the arrival of spring. This year, the rare combination of events led some to call it the “blood worm moon.”

The final image produced by Van de Laar was not a single shot but rather a composite of several images taken at various stages of the eclipse, from the initial faint dimming as the moon entered Earth’s penumbra to the dramatic red glow during totality and the subsequent phases as it emerged back into full sunlight.

These individual photographs were then combined into a final image.