• A commercial airliner crosses the path of the rising full moon as it comes in to land at Lindberg Field in San Diego, California on October 7, 2014. During the total lunar eclipse, light beams into Earth’s shadow, filling it with a coppery glow that gives it a red hue. Mike Blake/Reuters
    A commercial airliner crosses the path of the rising full moon as it comes in to land at Lindberg Field in San Diego, California on October 7, 2014. During the total lunar eclipse, light beams into Earth’s shadow, filling it with a coppery glow that gives it a red hue. Mike Blake/Reuters
  • A red moon appears above the centre of Moscow, next to Red Square in Russia on October 8, 2014. The 'blood moon' appears orange or red, the result of sunlight scattering off Earth's atmosphere. Pavel Golovkin/AP Photo
    A red moon appears above the centre of Moscow, next to Red Square in Russia on October 8, 2014. The 'blood moon' appears orange or red, the result of sunlight scattering off Earth's atmosphere. Pavel Golovkin/AP Photo
  • The Earth's shadow creeps across the moon surface in the early hours of the morning in Lower Township, in New Jersey. he Press of Atlantic City, Dale Gerhard/AP Photo
    The Earth's shadow creeps across the moon surface in the early hours of the morning in Lower Township, in New Jersey. he Press of Atlantic City, Dale Gerhard/AP Photo
  • The moon rises behind the turbines of Whitelees Windfarm in Glasgow, Scotland in Glasgow, Scotland. The total eclipse is the second of four over a two-year period that began April 15 and concludes on September 28, 2015. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
    The moon rises behind the turbines of Whitelees Windfarm in Glasgow, Scotland in Glasgow, Scotland. The total eclipse is the second of four over a two-year period that began April 15 and concludes on September 28, 2015. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
  • A man and a woman look at the moon as they ride a Ferris wheel, while a total lunar eclipse takes place in Tokyo on October 8, 2014. Toru Hanai/Reuters
    A man and a woman look at the moon as they ride a Ferris wheel, while a total lunar eclipse takes place in Tokyo on October 8, 2014. Toru Hanai/Reuters
  • The total lunar eclipse over Milwaukee on October 8, 2014. Mike De Sisti/AP Photo
    The total lunar eclipse over Milwaukee on October 8, 2014. Mike De Sisti/AP Photo
  • A commercial airliner on approach to Reagan National Airport flies past the full moon during the total lunar eclipse in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson, Getty Images/AFP
    A commercial airliner on approach to Reagan National Airport flies past the full moon during the total lunar eclipse in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson, Getty Images/AFP
  • A lunar eclipse appears above Wade, North Carolina, through the lenses of an amateur astronomer's 8-inch telescope. The Fayetteville Observer, Johnny Horne/AP Photo
    A lunar eclipse appears above Wade, North Carolina, through the lenses of an amateur astronomer's 8-inch telescope. The Fayetteville Observer, Johnny Horne/AP Photo
  • The beginning of a total lunar eclipse seen from the Qizhong Tennis Court in Shanghai. Aly Song/Reuters
    The beginning of a total lunar eclipse seen from the Qizhong Tennis Court in Shanghai. Aly Song/Reuters
  • View of the total lunar eclipse behind the CN Tower and the skyline in Toronto. Mark Blinch/Reuters
    View of the total lunar eclipse behind the CN Tower and the skyline in Toronto. Mark Blinch/Reuters
  • The Earth's shadow begins to fall over the moon during a total lunar eclipse, behind a weathervane on the Freedom Tower in Miami. Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo
    The Earth's shadow begins to fall over the moon during a total lunar eclipse, behind a weathervane on the Freedom Tower in Miami. Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo
  • A full moon is seen behind the cupola (dome) of St Peter's Basilica early on October 8, 2014 in Rome. Tiziana Fabi/AFP Photo
    A full moon is seen behind the cupola (dome) of St Peter's Basilica early on October 8, 2014 in Rome. Tiziana Fabi/AFP Photo
  • Photographers capturing the moments of the total lunar eclipse from a large field south of Wade, North Carolina. The Fayetteville Observer, Johnny Horne/AP Photo
    Photographers capturing the moments of the total lunar eclipse from a large field south of Wade, North Carolina. The Fayetteville Observer, Johnny Horne/AP Photo
  • The blood moon peeking over the hill from Chipilo town, in the Mexican state of Puebla. Francisco Guasco/EPA
    The blood moon peeking over the hill from Chipilo town, in the Mexican state of Puebla. Francisco Guasco/EPA
  • The Moon is bathed in a red light during a lunar eclipse seen over Sydney on October 8, 2014. Rick Rycroft/AP Photo
    The Moon is bathed in a red light during a lunar eclipse seen over Sydney on October 8, 2014. Rick Rycroft/AP Photo

World

‘Blood moon’ stuns sky watchers - in pictures

Rob Gurdebeke

October 08, 2014

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Stargazers in the Americas and Asia were treated to a lunar eclipse Wednesday, a celestial show that bathed the moon in a reddish tint to create a “blood moon”. The eclipse is the second of four total lunar eclipses, which started with a first “blood moon” on April 15, in a series astronomers call a tetrad. The next two total lunar eclipses will be on April 4 and September 28 of next year. The last time a tetrad took place was in 2003-2004, with the next predicted for 2032-2033. In total, the 21st century will see eight tetrads.

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