Why does the Moon sometimes look red during a total lunar eclipse?
Quick Answer
Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters sunlight, sending red light into Earth’s shadow and onto the Moon.
The Full Story
During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow, but it does not disappear completely. Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is scattered, and shorter blue wavelengths are removed more strongly than red light. The remaining red-orange light is bent into the shadow and illuminates the Moon, giving it a coppery color. This same effect is why sunsets look red on Earth. Lunar eclipses have been observed and predicted for thousands of years, and modern astronomy can calculate their timing precisely.
Key Facts
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