Turning Red in the Night Sky: The 'Blood Moon' Total Lunar Eclipse
Marvel at Today's Stunning 'Blood Moon' Total Eclipse's Top Pics
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Had your eyes to the heavens late on Thursday night? If you did, you might have caught the stunning sight of the "Worm Moon" turning a beautiful bloody-red during a total lunar eclipse. As it drifted through Earth's massive umbral shadow, it left spectators gawking at this breathtaking celestial event. But that's not all — this eclipse was also captured as a total solar eclipse by a spacecraft on the moon.
Key Facts
On March 13-14, 2025, a total lunar eclipse graced our skies, marking the first since 2022. This spectacle was best observed from North and South America.
As the moon entered Earth's central shadow, it began to dim, transforming into a stunning copper-red orb in the night sky. Those in the eastern half of North America caught the eclipse mostly after midnight, while those in the western half had a more convenient view in the evening.
Western Europeans caught a glimpse of the moon slipping into Earth's shadow just before moonset, while those in New Zealand were treated to the mesmerizing sight of the moon rising already eclipsed.
The Red Hue of the Moon
During the eclipse, the moon traveled through the northern half of Earth's shadow, giving a darker appearance to its southern limb while lighting up the northern limb in a pinkish, orangey hue. The moon's brilliant red glow during totality is due to sunlight refracting through Earth's atmosphere, a phenomenon often referred to as a "blood moon." This red hue occurs because Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter-wavelength blue and green light while allowing red and orange hues to pass through and illuminate the moon.
A Shared Connection with History
The "blood moon" revealed itself on the side of the Spring Triangle, a simple equilateral triangle of red supergiant stars — Arcturus, Spica, and Denebola. The scene was reminiscent of the night of Feb. 29-March 1, 1504, when Christopher Columbus used his astronomical expertise to manipulate the indigenous Arawak people. According to Space.com, this total lunar eclipse occurred exactly one hypersaros after the Feb. 29-March 1, 1504 event. A hypersaros is a 521-year cycle in which lunar eclipses share similar characteristics, depth, position in the sky, and time of year.
Future Celestial Events
Another total lunar eclipse is around the corner. On Sept. 7-8, 2025, the full "Corn Moon" will become the year's second "blood moon," shining bright for 82 minutes, but this time mostly visible from Asia. Europe will catch a fleeting glimpse at moonrise. The next total lunar eclipse visible from North America will grace our skies on March 3-4, 2026, with those in Hawaii, Alaska, and western regions of the U.S. and Canada getting the best view of totality, which will last 58 minutes.
Understanding the Total Lunar Eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is directly between the sun and a full moon, casting a shadow onto the lunar surface. During totality, the only sunlight reaching the moon comes through Earth's atmosphere, which refracts and filters the light, scattering blue and green wavelengths and allowing only reddish light to illuminate the moon. NASA explains that totality during a total lunar eclipse is like witnessing thousands of sunsets being projected onto the moon.
Additional Reading
- Forbes - In Photos: Spacecraft Captures Historic Solar Eclipse From The Moon
- Forbes - 9 Things To Know About The Best 'Blood Moon' Total Lunar Eclipse Until 2029
- Forbes - Must-See Sky Events In Spring 2025 - From A 'Blood Moon' To 'Shooting Stars'
- Forbes - Saw The The Total Eclipse And Aurora? Here Comes A Third Rare Sky Event
Historical Context
During his fourth voyage in 1504, stranded on the coast of Jamaica, Columbus used his knowledge of an approaching total lunar eclipse to intimidate the indigenous Arawak people. By predicting the eclipse, he convinced them that his deity was displeased with their lack of support, leading them to provide him with food and assistance.
Astronomical Connection
The eclipses in 1504 and 2025 are connected through the Saros cycle, an 18-year, 11-day, and 8-hour period during which nearly identical eclipses occur. The 2025 eclipse is also part of a larger cycle known as the Hypersaros, which spans about 521 years and explains why eclipses separated by such a long period can exhibit similar characteristics and occur at nearly the same time of year.
Visibility and Significance
The March 13-14, 2025, eclipse will be visible from North and South America, Western Europe, parts of Western Africa, and New Zealand, giving a wide audience the opportunity to witness this celestial event. The event serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of celestial events on human culture and history, demonstrating how they have been used for both scientific understanding and as a tool for influence.
- The next total lunar eclipse, often referred to as a 'blood moon', will occur on March 13-14, 2025, marking a rare celestial event visible from North and South America, Western Europe, parts of Western Africa, and New Zealand.
- During the eclipse in 2025, the moon will dim and transform into a copper-red orb, a phenomenon that occurs due to sunlight refracting through Earth's atmosphere, dimming the shorter-wavelength blue and green light while allowing red and orange hues to pass through and illuminate the moon.
- The 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse of 2025 shares a connection with a similar eclipse in 1504, when Christopher Columbus used his astronomical knowledge to manipulate the indigenous Arawak people, demonstrating the enduring impact of celestial events on human culture and history.
