During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth aligns perfectly between the sun and the moon. The moon, which normally appears “lit” due to its ability to reflect sunlight, get completely blocked and no light reaches it. Some light though, gets refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere and makes the moon appear red.
This picture above is from a lunar eclipse almost 1 year ago in Arizona, USA. On the night of January 20/21 (tonight) there will be another total lunar eclipse! There, all 62 minutes of the total phase, when the Moon is completely immersed in Earth’s dark umbral shadow, will take place with the Moon above the horizon. Watch it if you can!
The next total lunar eclipse visible from anywhere on planet Earth won’t take place until May 26, 2021.
Image Credit & Copyright: Fred Espenak (MrEclipse.com, TWAN)