![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2018\/07\/lunar_eclipse_27_july_2018\/17625910-1-eng-GB\/Lunar_eclipse_27_July_2018_small.jpg\")
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\nThis unusual view of the Moon was captured during Friday\u2019s total lunar eclipse from ESA\u2019s European Space Astronomy Centre near Madrid in Spain, at 23:03 CEST.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe unprocessed image was taken with a Canon EOS 550D attached to a 20 cm aperture Celestron Newtonian CG8, with an exposure time of one second (ISO 1600).\n<\/p>\n
\nDuring a lunar eclipse the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the light that would usually illuminate our orbiting neighbour\u2019s surface. Instead, the reddish-orange-brown hue arises from refracted sunlight passing through the Earth\u2019s atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n
\nIt is the same mechanism responsible for sunrises and sunsets. In fact, the red hue during a total lunar eclipse arises from the refracted light from all the sunrises and sunsets taking place at the same time around the world along the day-night boundary at that moment on Earth, projected on to the Moon\u2019s surface.\n<\/p>\n
\nIf you were lucky enough to see the event from a vantage point on the Moon\u2019s surface, you\u2019d see a red ring around Earth, glowing with the light of our planet\u2019s sunrises and sunsets \u2013 quite a sight in store for future lunar explorers<\/a>, although they would have to face the rapid change in temperature as Earth\u2019s shadow races across the surface!\n<\/p>\n \nThe conditions in Earth\u2019s atmosphere at the time of the eclipse \u2013 dust particles and clouds for example \u2013 can have an effect on the shade of red. Although not a scientific term, the term \u2018blood moon\u2019 is commonly used to describe the totally eclipsed red-coloured Moon.\n<\/p>\n \nFriday\u2019s event was the longest eclipse of the 21st<\/sup> century, with totality \u2013 the time in which the Earth\u2019s shadow completely engulfs the Moon\u2019s surface \u2013 lasting for 103 minutes.\n<\/p>\n \nMissed this event? Lunar eclipses can occur up to five times a year, so there will be plenty more opportunities in the future. Furthermore, a solar eclipse always occurs about two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse. To see if you can view the partial solar eclipse coming up on 11 August, check https:\/\/www.timeanddate.com<\/a>, which provides useful information on astronomical phenomena like this.\n<\/p>\n \nFor more images of the recent total lunar eclipse from ESA\u2019s astronomers in Spain, visit the CESAR<\/a> (Cooperation through Education in Science and Astronomy Research) website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nThis unusual view of the Moon was captured during Friday’s total lunar eclipse from ESA’s European Space Astronomy Centre near Madrid in Spain, at 23:03 CEST.\n<\/p>\n \nThe unprocessed image was taken with a Canon EOS 550D attached to a 20 cm aperture Celestron Newtonian CG8, with an exposure time of one second (ISO 1600).\n<\/p>\n \nDuring a lunar eclipse the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the light that would usually illuminate our orbiting neighbour’s surface. Instead, the reddish-orange-brown hue arises from refracted sunlight passing through the Earth’s atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n \nIt is the same mechanism responsible for sunrises and sunsets. In fact, the red hue during a total lunar eclipse arises from the refracted light from all the sunrises and sunsets taking place at the same time around the world along the day-night boundary at that moment on Earth, projected on to the Moon’s surface.\n<\/p>\n \nIf you were lucky enough to see the event from a vantage point on the Moon’s surface, you’d see a red ring around Earth, glowing with the light of our planet’s sunrises and sunsets – quite a sight in store for future lunar explorers<\/a>, although they would have to face the rapid change in temperature as Earth’s shadow races across the surface!\n<\/p>\n \nThe conditions in Earth’s atmosphere at the time of the eclipse – dust particles and clouds for example – can have an effect on the shade of red. Although not a scientific term, the term ‘blood moon’ is commonly used to describe the totally eclipsed red-coloured Moon.\n<\/p>\n \nFriday’s event was the longest eclipse of the 21st<\/sup> century, with totality – the time in which the Earth’s shadow completely engulfs the Moon’s surface – lasting for 103 minutes.\n<\/p>\n \nMissed this event? Lunar eclipses can occur up to five times a year, so there will be plenty more opportunities in the future. Furthermore, a solar eclipse always occurs about two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse. To see if you can view the partial solar eclipse coming up on 11 August, check https:\/\/www.timeanddate.com<\/a>, which provides useful information on astronomical phenomena like this.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n