Some of the Best Photos of Today's Lengthy Lunar Eclipse from Around the World
Did you sleep through the longest lunar eclipse of the century? Well, here's what it looked like.
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.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Blv7VuFHds_/?taken-by=seathebreezee
https://www.instagram.com/p/Blv6W6klmLn/?taken-by=bodrumlayasa
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwBF0PHUUk/?taken-by=dorpell
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwBAQRlHpR/?taken-by=imikov
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwFT2cntgc/?tagged=lunareclipse2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/Blv4yWnBsC7/?taken-by=daves_snippets
https://www.instagram.com/p/Blv2RLhnqqB/?taken-by=evrensongun
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwEgD1H6jO/?taken-by=matthias.hangst
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwHTeTn207/?taken-by=mel_weber_photography
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwFhjXH5K1/?taken-by=milkyway_scientists