Experience the Thrill of the ‘Blood Moon’: Stunning Lunar Lander Footage from Last Night’s Total Eclipse

While many viewers on Earth marveled at the “blood moon” during a recent total lunar eclipse, a spacecraft named Blue Ghost was parked on the moon, capturing a different spectacle. This Texas-based company, Firefly Aerospace, successfully landed on the moon on March 2 and shared striking images of Earth blocking the sun. In these photos, Earth seemed to slowly eclipse the sun until only a bright ring remained, creating a breathtaking visual.

The lunar eclipse, which occurred on the night of March 13-14, lasted around six hours, with totality taking place from 2:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. EDT. During this time, the moon appeared red, a phenomenon caused by Rayleigh scattering. This process scatters shorter, blue wavelengths of light in Earth’s atmosphere, allowing the red wavelengths to light up the moon.

Interestingly, the moon’s eclipse was reminiscent of the total solar eclipse witnessed across North America just a year prior. As Blue Ghost’s cameras captured the event, viewers could only see the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, shining through the Earth’s silhouette.

This event isn’t entirely unique. NASA’s Surveyor 3 lunar spacecraft recorded a similar eclipse back in 1967, highlighting how rare but fascinating these moments can be.

Experts in astronomy explain that eclipses often occur in pairs due to the lunar cycle. A solar eclipse typically follows about two weeks after a lunar eclipse. The next solar eclipse will occur on March 29, featuring a partial blocking of the sun’s disk, where around 94% will be obscured.

It’s worth noting that although eclipses can happen on other planets, they won’t experience the striking effects, like the “diamond ring” phenomenon, that Earthlings enjoy. This visible spectacle occurs because of the specific sizes and distances between the Earth, moon, and sun.

As we look forward to future astronomical events, it’s clear that such celestial celebrations connect us. They remind us of the beauty in our universe and the wonder that comes with observing its phenomena.

Check out this related article: Could ‘Poppy Seeds’ and ‘Leopard Spots’ on Mars Reveal Clues About Ancient Microbial Life?