Captivating Blood Moon Gallery: Breathtaking Photos from Last Night’s Total Lunar Eclipse

Last night, sky enthusiasts around the world turned their cameras to catch a stunning event: a “blood moon” during a total lunar eclipse.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes through Earth’s deepest shadow, known as the umbra. This causes the moon to take on a red hue, hence the name “blood moon.” While many in the U.S. enjoyed a similar sight back in March, this latest eclipse was mainly visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

This eclipse lasted about 82 minutes, making it the longest since 2022. If you missed it, you can find beautiful photos shared online. For example, many photographers captured breathtaking images like the one above the Olympic Park in Beijing, taken by Sheng Jiapeng.

During a lunar eclipse, sunlight still reaches the moon. As the light passes through Earth’s atmosphere, shorter wavelengths, like blue, scatter, leaving behind the longer red and orange wavelengths. That’s why the moon appears red during the eclipse.

In Germany, photographer Emmanuele Contini captured the moon rising behind a famous bridge, while in Greece, Nicolas Koutsokostas snapped a photo of the blood moon beside an air traffic control tower. Photographers across the globe shared their experiences on social media, showcasing stunning views from their locations.

A lunar eclipse only happens when the moon is perfectly aligned behind Earth and the sun. If the alignment is a bit off, we see a partial eclipse instead. The next total lunar eclipse will occur on March 3, 2026, visible from the Americas and parts of Asia and Australia. Until then, the memories and images of the blood moon will inspire many to look up and appreciate the wonders of our universe.

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