What Causes a ‘Lunar’ Eclipse?

Imagine the Earth is like a giant shield. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the sun’s light from reaching the moon, and it casts a shadow on the moon. The shadow isn’t black, it’s red because the Earth’s atmosphere bends the sunlight, making the moon look like it's wearing a red hat. It’s like when you shine a flashlight through a glass of water, and the light changes color.

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Examples

  1. The moon looks like it's wearing a red hat during an eclipse.
  2. It’s like shining a flashlight through water, the light changes color.
  3. You might see a blood moon when the sky is especially dusty.

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Categories: Science · Eclipse· Moon· Earth Science