Blood Moon Phase July 2018

The night of July 27th, 2018, was unlike any other night. The sky was clear, the air was crisp, and the moon was about to perform a rare and spectacular show. The 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse was about to occur, and I was determined to capture it on camera. I set up my equipment and waited patiently as the moon slowly disappeared behind the Earth's shadow. As the eclipse progressed, the moon turned a deep red colour, creating an eerie and magical atmosphere. The entire process lasted for 1 hour and 43 minutes, and I was in awe throughout the whole experience. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event that I will never forget.

What is a Blood Moon?

A blood moon is a mesmerising celestial event that takes place during a total lunar eclipse. This phenomenon occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon's surface and giving it a reddish hue. It is a breathtaking sight to behold and has fascinated humans for centuries.

Why does the Moon turn red?

The Moon's red glow during a total lunar eclipse is a fascinating sight to behold. As the Moon passes behind the Earth, it is enveloped in the Earth's shadow, causing it to appear dimmer and darker. However, the Earth's atmosphere acts as a giant lens, bending and scattering the Sun's light towards the Moon. This scatters short-wavelength blue and green light, leaving only the longer-wavelength red light to reach the Moon. The result is a stunning reddish-orange tint that covers the Moon's surface, creating a breathtaking celestial spectacle that never fails to captivate onlookers.

7 Stages of the Eclipse

1. Penumbral eclipse begins

As the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, a captivating celestial event occurs - the penumbral lunar eclipse. This phenomenon commences when the Moon first enters the outer edge of Earth's shadow, known as the penumbra. At this stage, a faint greyish shade creeps over the Moon's surface, caused by the partial blockage of sunlight by the penumbra. Gradually, the penumbra advances across the lunar disk, creating an ethereal effect that can be observed with binoculars or a telescope. While not as dramatic as a total lunar eclipse, the penumbral lunar eclipse offers a mesmerising display of the interplay between the Sun, Earth, and the Moon.

2. Partial eclipse begins

Earth's umbra starts covering the Moon, making the eclipse more visible.

3. Total eclipse begins

Earth's umbra completely covers the Moon and the Moon is red, brown, or yellow in color.

4. Maximum eclipse

This is the middle of the total eclipse.

5. Total eclipse ends

At this stage, Earth's umbra starts moving away from the Moon's surface.

6. Partial eclipse ends

Earth's umbra completely leaves the Moon's surface.

7. Penumbral eclipse ends

At this point, the eclipse ends and Earth's shadow completely moves away from the Moon.

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