Without protective gear, looking directly at an eclipse can cause serious damage or scarring to the eyes. “Solar retinopathy is a photochemical injury to your retina,” Dr. Nicole Bajic, a surgical ophthalmologist at the Cleveland Clinic, previously told TIME via email.

In contrast, during a total solar eclipse — which is preceded by a partial eclipse — the moon completely covers the sun, revealing the sun's outer atmosphere, called the corona, during totality. That's the only time it's safe to look at a solar eclipse with the naked eye, since all of the sun's light is blocked.

On the night of March 13 into the morning of March 14, 2025, as most of North America is fast asleep, the Full Worm Moon will slide into the Earth's shadow producing a spectacular total lunar eclipse.