What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse is a celestial event that occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. It is often called a blood moon due to the reddish color the moon takes on during the eclipse. Lunar eclipses only occur during a full moon phase and can only happen when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are perfectly aligned in a straight line.

There are three types of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth completely blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon, causing the Moon to turn red. A partial lunar eclipse happens when only a part of the Moon is covered by Earth's shadow. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's outer shadow, causing the Moon to appear slightly darker.

The duration of a lunar eclipse can vary from a few minutes to several hours. The frequency of lunar eclipses is about two to four times a year, but they are not visible from all parts of the world. Lunar eclipses are safe to observe without any special equipment, unlike solar eclipses, which require special protective eyewear.