A lunar eclipse happens when Earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow onto the moon's surface. Because Earth's shadow is large relative to the moon, lunar eclipses are visible from the entire night-side half of Earth at once — no special travel required, unlike a solar eclipse's narrow path.
Total lunar eclipse
The moon passes fully into Earth's darkest shadow (the umbra). Rather than disappearing, the moon typically turns a dim red or copper color — this is the "blood moon" effect, caused by sunlight bending through Earth's atmosphere and scattering, the same reason sunsets look red.
Partial lunar eclipse
Only part of the moon passes into Earth's umbra, so a portion of the moon appears darkened while the rest remains lit.
Penumbral lunar eclipse
The moon passes through Earth's outer, lighter shadow (the penumbra) without touching the darker umbra. The effect is subtle — a slight dimming or shading, often hard to notice without careful observation or a camera.
Viewing safety
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to view with the naked eye — no glasses or filters needed. Binoculars or a telescope will show more detail but aren't required.
See upcoming lunar eclipse dates and visibility on the homepage, or read more about the blood moon effect specifically.