Lunar Eclipse

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon. This alignment can only happen during a full moon when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in a straight line. There are three types of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon is covered by the Earth’s umbra, resulting in the Moon taking on a reddish hue, often referred to as a “blood moon.” In a partial lunar eclipse, only a portion of the Moon enters the Earth’s umbra, leading to a part of the Moon being darkened. In a penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through the Earth’s penumbra, causing a subtle shading on the Moon’s surface. Lunar eclipses are safe to observe with the naked eye and can be seen from anywhere on the night side of Earth.