Crimson Shadow: Total Lunar Eclipse Phase Sequence

During the total lunar eclipse, I captured the interplay of light and shadow as the Moon transitioned from the penumbra into the umbra. When the lunar surface is entirely shrouded by Earth’s umbral shadow, only long-wavelength red light—refracted through Earth’s atmosphere—reaches the lunar surface.

This striking coppery tone (often called a ‘Blood Moon’) is essentially a byproduct of Rayleigh scattering by Earth’s atmosphere, showcasing the delicate optical connection within the Earth-Moon system.

Lunar Eclipse Phase Series | Rayleigh Scattering