A total lunar eclipse took place yesterday, June 15. It was the first of two eclipses in 2011. The second will occur on December 10, 2011.The eclipse was difficult to see in the Basque Country because the sky was covered by clouds, but here we can see some photos taken in other parts of the world.
This type of eclipse occurs when the Moon is equallyaligned with the Sun and the Earth. It doesn't become totally invisible, as can happen with solar eclipses; instead, it becomes darker and takes on a dusty shade of reddish orange. This happens because the Sun's rays are refracted in the Earth's atmosphere before reaching the Moon. The colour taken on by the Moon during the eclipse will depend on the state of the Earth's atmosphere at that time.
The next central total lunar eclipse will be on July 27, 2018.
