The wait is over! The first breathtaking photos of the 2026 blood moon total lunar eclipse have arrived, and they are truly out of this world. But here's where it gets exciting...
Although the total lunar eclipse has passed its peak, the awe-inspiring spectacle continues to unfold across North America. Earth's shadow didn't just dim the moon; it painted it with a captivating crimson hue, creating the famous blood moon effect. This celestial event has already ignited a frenzy of photography, with stunning images flooding the internet.
Photographers in America and Oceania have captured the eclipse in all its glory. One remarkable shot, taken by Mirko Harnisch and the Dunedin Astronomical Society, showcases the partial eclipse phase with the full moon glowing above New Zealand. This image, from The Virtual Telescope Project livestream, reveals the moment Earth's inner shadow started its gradual journey across the moon, darkening the western lunar seas. Did you know this March full moon has a unique name, the Worm Moon, inspired by the emergence of earthworms and beetles as the ground softens?
Another captivating photo by Ted Aljibe shows the moon rising over Manila, Philippines, with Earth's shadow gracefully veiling its lower half. And there's more! Time and Date shared a view of the lunar disk, partially hidden by our planet's umbral shadow, with the dark Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis visible, reminding us of the moon's volcanic past.
Harnisch and the Dunedin Astronomical Society struck gold again, capturing the lunar disk during totality, as sunlight refracted through Earth's atmosphere, casting an otherworldly glow on the ancient surface. The blood moon phenomenon is a sight to behold, and Time and Date's mobile observatory in Yucca Valley, California, captured its essence, showcasing the lunar seas on the crimson moon as it hid behind Earth.
The grand finale? An extraordinary image by Phil Walker from northern New Zealand, capturing the full moon during totality, illuminated by the combined light of every sunrise and sunset on Earth. And this is the part most people miss: you can follow the entire lunar eclipse journey through our live blog, witnessing Earth's shadow gradually fade from the moon's surface until the eclipse ends at 9:23 a.m. EST (1423 GMT).
Want to share your own blood moon eclipse photos? Send them to spacephotos@space.com, along with your comments and location. Join the conversation and be a part of this celestial celebration!
Anthony Wood, a passionate sky enthusiast and writer for Space.com, eagerly awaits humanity's return to the moon. Don't miss out on this cosmic event—share your thoughts and keep the excitement alive!
