Lunar Eclipse Thrills Stargazers in the Americas

The moon shines during a full lunar eclipse (upper left), and then at various stages as it emerges from the earth's shadow near Moscow, Idaho, on May 15, 2022. Ted S. Warren/AP Photo

A total lunar eclipse provided a spectacular celestial show as it unfolded Sunday night into early Monday in the Americas.

The eastern half of North America and all of Central and South America were prime locations to see the eclipse, while partial stages were visible across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Among those watching the eclipse where skies were clear were residents of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who bundled up in the chilly night and relaxed on blankets in a park to look at the event. In Caracas, Venezuela, some people brought laser pointers as a crowd gathered to watch.

A lunar eclipse begins as the full moon sets over the hills of the Taunus mountains near Frankfurt, Germany, on May 16, 2022. Michael Probst/AP Photo

A full moon above the historical city center of Mardin, famous with its stone houses, in southeastern Turkey, on May 16, 2022. Emrah Gurel/AP Photo

A couple look at the moon during the first blood moon of the year, in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 15, 2022. Matias Delacroix/AP Photo

The moon was bathed in the reflected red and orange hues of Earth’s sunsets and sunrises for about 1.5 hours, one of the longest totalities of the decade. It was the first so-called “blood moon” in a year.

A total eclipse occurs when Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun, and casts a shadow on the lunar surface. The moon was 225,000 miles (362,000 kilometers) away at the peak of the eclipse—around midnight on the U.S. East Coast.

A lunar eclipse covers the moon as it rises beyond a statue atop the Liberty Memorial tower at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Mo., on May 16, 2022. Charlie Riedel/AP Photo

A lunar eclipse behind a cyclist during the first blood moon of the year, in Irwindale, Calif., on May 15, 2022. Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Photo

There’ll be another lengthy total lunar eclipse in November, with Africa and Europe being the best places to see it, but not the Americas. Then the next one isn’t until 2025.