Overview
If there's ever been a reason to jump out of bed early on a Saturday morning (or stay up until daybreak after a big night out), it's seeing cosmic history made before your very eyes. The longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century delivered just that when it put on its sky-high show from 3.14am AEST — with the partial eclipse starting at 4.24am, the total eclipse at 5.30am and maximum eclipse occurring at 6.21am.
For anyone that missed the event — and the news in the lead-up — this lengthy event lasted 103 minutes in the total eclipse phase, a duration that won't be seen again until the 2100s. It was also the last total lunar eclipse of any length that is visible from Australia again until May 2021.
And, thanks to sunlight that was filtered and refracted by the earth's atmosphere, the moon also turned a blood-red share as well. So, in addition to spying a total lunar eclipse and a full moon, sky-gazers also saw a blood moon as well.
Last but by no means least, Mars was also seen twinkling in the sky right next to the moon, with the planet at its closest position to earth in 15 years.
As always, social media is packed full of stellar photo from those who saw and snapped the astronomical event — so whether you saw it with your own eyes or blissfully slept through it, here are some of the best shots of the lunar eclipse from around the planet.
