Stunning Images of Partial Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon Seen Worldwide
Skywatchers across Mexico, Europe, and parts of the Americas witnessed a partial lunar eclipse on Thursday night, coinciding with the full August sturgeon moon. According to the BBC, the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon created a celestial spectacle that reached its peak before dawn in the United Kingdom.
Sturgeon Moon Dips Into Earth’s Shadow
Physics of the Crimson Umbra
During the event, the Earth passed directly between the Sun and the Moon, causing the lunar surface to slip into the planet’s shadow. The BBC reported that only a portion of the Moon entered the umbra, the darkest section of the Earth’s shadow, preventing a total eclipse while still bathing the lunar surface in a distinct crimson hue.
Shorter blue wavelengths disperse more easily, while longer red wavelengths reach the lunar surface and reflect back toward Earth. Clear weather windows allowed observers, such as the BBC WeatherWatcher known as ‘Selsey Bill,’ to view the partial shading through gaps in the cloud cover above the White Cliffs.
Crowds Gather Across Continents
The event also drew crowds in Mexico, where families packed the Macroplaza in Monterrey to observe the phenomenon, according to Milenio and La Jornada. Coverage from La Jornada noted that the sight of the blood moon stretched across skies throughout Mexico and across three continents.
Global Framing From Italy to Turkey
Additional international observations captured the eclipse from distinct architectural and geographical backdrops.
Seasonal Traditions and the Next Cycle
The August full moon earns its traditional moniker, the sturgeon moon, from historical naming conventions used to track seasonal shifts and natural occurrences, according to the BBC. In North America, the name reflects the time of year when sturgeon fish become abundant in rivers. The next full moon, scheduled for September 26, is traditionally called the harvest moon or corn moon, marking the agricultural season for gathering crops.