Stargazers across the world marvelled at a dramatic red "blood moon" during a rare lunar eclipse this week.
A full orange moon rises behind a historic tower in a cityscape at dusk.
The Moon is seen behind the Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey, March 14, 2025.(Reuters: Dilara Senkaya)
The spectacle was visible in the Americas and Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as in the westernmost parts of Europe and Africa.
Lunar eclipse showing a reddish moon in a dark sky with faint stars.
The Moon during the lunar eclipse in Bogota, Colombia March 14, 2025.(Reuters: Luisa Gonzalez)
A close up photo of a lunar eclipse showing a reddish moon peeking behind a tower.
The Moon behind the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, March 14, 2025.(Reuters: Arlyn McAdorey)
Lunar eclipse with a reddish moon and stars in the night sky.
The striking "blood moon" total lunar eclipse, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 14, 2025.(Reuters: Gaby Oraa)
The phenomenon happens when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up, causing our planet to cast a giant shadow across its satellite.
But as the Earth's shadow crept across the Moon, it did not entirely blot out its white glow — instead the Moon glowed a reddish colour.
A red-hued lunar eclipse against a dark sky.
The view of the Moon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil March 14, 2025.(Reuters: Pilar Olivares)
Lunar eclipse showing a reddish moon with gold light refraction in the foreground.
The lunar eclipse from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.(Reuters: Jose Luis Gonzalez)
Stonehenge at twilight with a partial lunar eclipse in the sky.
People view the Moon as a section moves into shadow during the lunar eclipse, before dawn, at Stonehenge stone circle, near Amesbury, southern Britain, March 14, 2025.(Reuters: Toby Melville)
This is because the only sunlight that reaches the Moon is "bent and scattered" as it goes through Earth's atmosphere, said Daniel Brown, an astronomer at Britain's Nottingham Trent University.
It is similar to how the light can become pink or red during sunrises or sunsets on Earth, he added.
The more clouds and dust there are in Earth's atmosphere, the redder the Moon appears.
Mr Brown called the lunar eclipse, which goes for around six hours, "an amazing way to see the solar system in action".
The period when the Moon is completely in Earth's shadow — called the totality — lasts just over an hour.
Lunar and solar eclipses happen anywhere from four to seven times a year, according to NASA.
A partial lunar eclipse graced skies in the Americas, Africa and Europe last September and the last total lunar eclipse was in 2022.
If you miss out, mark your calendar for September 7. Another total lunar eclipse will sweep across parts of Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.
Parts of the Americas will get their next taste in March 2026.
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