Skywatchers across the world, including in India, were treated to a celestial spectacle as a total lunar eclipse transformed the full Moon into a glowing red orb.
Nasa’s Marshall Space Flight Centre, located in the US, shared a mesmerising timelapse video of the event, captured over the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The video showcases the Moon’s eerie glow against the backdrop of Nasa’s key manufacturing site for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, highlighting the agency’s deep ties to lunar exploration.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE BLOOD MOON?
Beginning in the penumbral shadow at 2:14 PM IST, the Moon entered the partial eclipse phase at 3:20 PM, before reaching full totality at 4:34 PM when it appeared the deepest red.
The maximum eclipse occurred at 5:03 PM, before totality ended at 5:32 PM.
Visibility was prime in western North America, the Pacific, eastern Asia, and Australia, though not seen in Europe or Africa.
This event marks the last total lunar eclipse visible from the Americas until June 2029, making it a rare opportunity for astronomers and enthusiasts alike.
The Moon, positioned in the constellation Leo, dimmed dramatically, allowing stargazers to spot fainter stars nearby with binoculars or telescopes.
WHAT CAUSES BLOOD MOON?
During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of its shadow. No direct sunlight reaches the lunar surface, but Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths, allowing longer red ones to filter through and bathe the Moon in a red hue, hence the Blood Moon moniker.
This refraction phenomenon, similar to sunsets, varies based on atmospheric conditions like dust or pollution, which can deepen the colour.
Nasa’s choice of location adds poignant context.
Michoud, managed by Marshall Space Flight Centre, is where the Artemis Program’s components are assembled, including SLS boosters for future Moon missions. The eclipse over this site symbolises humanity’s ongoing quest to return to the lunar surface, with Artemis II slated for later in 2026.
These events underscore a banner year for astronomy, encouraging public engagement amid advancing space exploration. The eclipse reminded us of the universe’s wonders, bridging ancient awe with modern science.
