Why Do Lunar Eclipses Turn the Moon Reddish?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do lunar eclipses turn the Moon reddish?

The Big Idea

A lunar eclipse turns the Moon reddish because Earth blocks direct sunlight! But bent rays through our air, especially the red ones, still reach the Moon and paint it copper. Eclipse red is Earth's sunset light, projected!

Earth's Shadow

Step one: Earth blocks the Sun. In a lunar eclipse, Earth lines up between the Sun and a full Moon. The Moon slides slowly into Earth's shadow, and the shadow looks like a dark bite taken from the Moon.

Bent Light

Step two: air bends the light. Some sunlight passes through the edge of Earth's air, which bends it toward the Moon. Blue light gets scattered away, but red light makes it through.

A Copper Moon

Step three: a coppery glow. That red light is like every sunrise and sunset on Earth shining onto the Moon. So the Moon glows orange-red, sometimes called a blood Moon.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The Sun shines from one side. Earth blocks the direct light. Our air bends the red light toward the Moon. And the Moon glows copper.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A total lunar eclipse can last about an hour or more. The Moon goes into Earth's shadow only at full Moon. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is safe to watch with your eyes. Still, always watch the night sky with a grown-up.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Mark the next lunar eclipse date on your calendar. Look it up with a grown-up, using a science website or a sky calendar. Then plan a night to watch it together! Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

A reddish Moon is Earth's sunset light. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!