Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.

ARLINGTON, VA - DECEMBER 21: In this handout ...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.

Watch Yesterday's Spectacular Lunar Eclipse

William Castleman made a beautiful time lapse of the Winter Solstice lunar eclipse, which was truly spectacular. If you missed it, you are going to love it. And if you watched it live, you are going to love it anyway.

Why did the Moon turn red?

It’s not the color of the Sun. What you are seeing is the color of every sunrise and sunset on Earth‘s skies. As the Earth casts its shadows and the Sun’s light hits all around Earth’s limb, the atmosphere glows red. That’s red glow—which you can’t see in a normal day—illuminates the surface of the Moon, engulfed into Earth’s shadow.

Geometry of a Lunar Eclipse
Image via Wikipedia

According to NASA, “the exact color depends on what’s floating around in Earth’s atmosphere. Following a volcanic eruption, for instance, dust and ash can turn global sunsets vivid red. The moon would glow vivid red, too. Lots of clouds, on the other hand, extinguish sunsets, leading to darker, dimmer eclipses.”

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.

So no, the Moon didn’t became as blood because the Apocalypse, there weren’t any human sacrifices, and dogs and cats are not living together. Yet.

When was the last time the lunar eclipse and winter solstice coincided? The U.S. Naval Observatory says 1638; Starhawk, a prominent Wiccan, puts it at 1544. Needless to say, these coinciding events are a rarity. So, in case you missed it, we have a nice time lapse video shot by William Castleman in Gainesville, Florida. Castelman also produced this fine gem: The Milky Way Over Texas.

Lunar libration. see below for more descriptions
Image via Wikipedia

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.

Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide.

Full Moon view from earth In Belgium (Hamois).
Image via Wikipedia
Image of xhedgehogx xhedgehogx 12/22/10

So you’re telling me I sacrificed that chicken for nothing?! F***

Original caption from NASA:
Image via Wikipedia
Related articles
Apparent paths of the Sun and Moon on the cele...
Image via Wikipedia
Enhanced by Zemanta