Lunar eclipse diagram5/5/2023 ![]() ![]() When the moon moves completely into the Earth's dark shadow cone (called the "umbra") we call that a total lunar eclipse. Joe Rao is 's skywatching columnist, as well as a veteran meteorologist and eclipse chaser who also serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. Other atmospheric factors such as temperature and humidity also affect the moon's appearance during a lunar eclipse. ![]() "How gold, orange, or red the moon appears during a total lunar eclipse depends on how much dust, water, and other particles are in Earth's atmosphere" according to NASA scientists (opens in new tab). When the moon passes through Earth's umbra during a total lunar eclipse, the red light reflects off the lunar surface, giving the moon its blood-red appearance. Shorter wavelengths such as blue light are scattered outward, while longer wavelengths like red are bent - or refracted - into Earth's umbra, according to the Natural History Museum (opens in new tab). When sunlight reaches Earth, our atmosphere scatters and filters different wavelengths. The eerie red appearance is caused by sunlight interacting with Earth's atmosphere. ![]() (Image credit: Future) (opens in new tab) What happens during a lunar eclipse? Why does the moon turn red during an eclipse?ĭuring a total lunar eclipse, the lunar surface turns a rusty red color, earning the nickname " blood moon". In this diagram, the moon is located in the penumbral shadow so it is experiencing a penumbral eclipse. During a total lunar eclipse, the umbra completely covers the lunar surface. Whether the moon sits in the penumbra or umbra will dictate the type of lunar eclipse. During a lunar eclipse the sun, Earth and moon align so that Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon and casts a shadow across the lunar surface. ![]()
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