This is an image of a total lunar eclipse on January 31, 2018. This eclipse of the Moon was visible from the western part of North America early in the morning before dawn. A rose-colored or pinkish anti-twilight arch is visible above the horizon in the opposite direction from the sun just before sunrise, caused by the backscattering of reddened light from the rising sun. This atmospheric phenomenon is commonly referred to as the "Belt of Venus." In this image, taken just before sunrise, the eclipsed Moon appears just below the Belt of Venus. The dark blue band of the sky below the Belt of Venus is a projection of the earth's shadow, and is sometimes referred to as the "Twilight Wedge."
The full moon on January 31 occurred when the Moon was near its closest point to earth in its orbit, so the Moon was slightly larger and brighter than normal. For this reason, it was referred to by some as a "Super Moon." It was the second full moon of the month, and thus was also called a "Blue Moon." So the January 31 lunar eclipse was a somewhat unique "Super Blue Moon Eclipse."
This image was taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR camera from my backyard in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Lunar Eclipse
January 31, 2018
Photo by Sid Leach
Scottsdale, Arizona
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