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News 31/03/2025 16:39

Stunning Photos Show the Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse in All Its Glory

In the Americas alone more than one billion people in 35 countries could bear witness to the total lunar eclipse that played out overhead from late night Thursday to the early hours of Friday. Tens of millions more in New Zealand and parts of Africa, Europe, and Russia could take in the sky show too. The performance was the result of the orbit of the Earth carrying it between the sun and the moon in a perfect alignment that temporarily blocked the sunlight that usually reflects off of the lunar surface, giving it its glow. In its place fell a deep shadow.

But the moon did not vanish from the sky entirely. Bright white sunlight contains all of the colors of the visible spectrum—colors that break apart and spill out when the light passes through a prism or through the sky after a storm, producing a dazzling rainbow. During the eclipse, the sunlight the Earth was blocking similarly separated into its constituent colors, with blue wavelengths being scattered through the atmosphere, while longer red wavelengths passed right through and traveled to the moon. The result: The darkened moon glowed a distinct orange-red—a phenomenon popularly called a blood moon.

The cosmic dance did not last long; the Earth continued on its orbital path and the moon began to brighten again after just over an hour. That was enough time, however, for countless professional and amateur photographers to capture dramatic pictures of the blood moon—images that are circulating around the world today. The eclipse was a little gift from the heavens to us. Here are some of the best images of that passing loveliness.

Texas Lunar Eclipse

A thin layer of clouds cover a total lunar eclipse as it enters its peak stage in Arlington, Texas. Julio Cortez—AP

 
Canada Lunar Eclipse
The Blood Moon lunar eclipse is seen behind the CN Tower in Toronto. Frank Gunn—The Canadian Press/AP
 
 
The Blood Moon darkens to its signature shade in the sky during a total lunar eclipse over central Wisconsin. 
Gabi Broekema—USA TODAY Network/Reuters
 
AUSTRALIA-SPACE-MOON-ECLIPSE
 
A Blood Moon is seen during a partial eclipse in the sky over Lake George near the Australian capital city of Canberra. Izhar Khan—AFP/Getty Images
 
 
A person is silhouetted against the rising full moon in the evening sky, in Los Angeles. 
Ringo Chiu—ZUMA Press Wire/Reuters
 
A total lunar eclipse, known as the blood moon, is visible between skyscrapers Friday, March 14, 2025, in downtown Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
A total lunar eclipse is visible in its peak stage Friday, March 14, 2025, in Overland Park, Kansas.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Total lunar eclipse as seen from Caracas
 
People watch the lunar eclipse on a screen at an overnight camp at the Humboldt Planetarium, in Caracas, Venezuela. Leonardo Fernandez Viloria—Reuters
 
Total Lunar Eclipse
 
Totality of the total lunar eclipse in Brentwood, Tenn. Camden Hall—ZUMA Press Wire/Reuters
Blood Worm Moon Lunar Eclipse
 
A partial lunar eclipse is seen during the Blood Moon lunar eclipse above Austin,
Texas. Rick Kern—Getty Images
The moon during the Total Lunar Eclipse in Colima, Mexico. 
Leonardo Montecillo—Agencia Press South/Getty Images
 
The Blood Worm moon darkens to its signature shade in the sky during a total lunar eclipse over central Wisconsin on Friday,
 
The Blood Moon darkens to its signature shade in the sky during a total lunar eclipse over central Wisconsin. Gabi Broekema—USA TODAY Network/Reuters
 
People view the full moon as a section moves into shadow during a lunar eclipse, before dawn, at Stonehenge stone circle, near Amesbury, southern Britain, March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Toby Melville
 

People view the full moon as a section moves into shadow during a lunar eclipse, before dawn on Friday, at Stonehenge stone circle, near Amesbury, southern Britain.

Toby Melville/Reuters

 
The full Worm Moon rises
 

The full worm moon rises above the skyline of Brooklyn and the Statue of Liberty as the sun sets in New York City ahead of a total lunar eclipse on Thursday, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey.

The total lunar eclipse that unfolded from late Thursday night to early Friday morning was a captivating event, visible to over one billion people across 35 countries in the Americas. Additionally, millions in New Zealand, parts of Africa, Europe, and Russia could also witness this spectacular celestial show. The alignment of the Earth between the Sun and the Moon caused the Earth's shadow to momentarily block sunlight, which typically reflects off the Moon, giving it its characteristic glow.

However, the Moon didn't completely disappear. Just like light passing through a prism or after a storm, which scatters shorter blue wavelengths while allowing longer red wavelengths to pass, the sunlight blocked by the Earth did the same. The longer red wavelengths filtered through Earth's atmosphere and illuminated the Moon, casting it in a distinct orange-red hue, famously known as the "blood moon."

The eclipse was brief, lasting just over an hour, before the Moon began to shine brightly again as the Earth continued along its orbit. Despite the short duration, this event was a perfect opportunity for photographers—both professional and amateur—to capture stunning images of the blood moon, which have been circulating widely. Here are some of the most breathtaking photographs from this mesmerizing sky show:

  • Texas Lunar Eclipse: A thin layer of clouds partially covered the total lunar eclipse as it reached its peak in Arlington, Texas.

  • Canada Lunar Eclipse: The blood moon was seen behind the iconic CN Tower in Toronto.

  • Australia Lunar Eclipse: The moon glowed an orange-red hue during a partial eclipse over Lake George near Canberra.

  • Los Angeles: A silhouette of a person against the rising full moon in the evening sky.

  • Chicago: The total lunar eclipse, known as the blood moon, was visible between the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago on March 14, 2025.

  • Overland Park, Kansas: The moon reached its peak stage during the total lunar eclipse, as seen in Overland Park.

  • Caracas, Venezuela: Observers watched the lunar eclipse on a screen at an overnight camp at the Humboldt Planetarium.

  • Brentwood, Tennessee: A clear view of the totality of the total lunar eclipse in Brentwood.

  • Austin, Texas: A partial lunar eclipse occurred as the moon passed into shadow, part of the blood moon.

  • Colima, Mexico: The moon illuminated with a reddish hue during the total lunar eclipse in Colima.

  • Stonehenge, Britain: People gathered at the famous stone circle to witness the eclipse as the full moon moved into shadow.

The event was a visual treat for skywatchers around the world, a reminder of the magnificent wonders of the universe.

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