For a lunar eclipse to occur, the Earth must pass between the Sun and the Moon. When that happens, the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon (as the diagram demonstrates). The Moon then loses its brilliance and becomes dark, sometimes displaying colours ranging from grey to tobacco or crimson. During totality, the stars around the Moon shine brightly, as they do when the Moon is absent from the sky. Fainter stars become visible, until the eclipse is over. Sometimes, the Moon can remain in this total phase, completely in the Earth’s shadow, for over an hour and a half. This means you’re much more likely to see a lunar eclipse than a solar eclipse.

A lunar eclipse is also much more widely visible: everyone on the dark side of the Earth can see it at once. Not all lunar eclipses are total, however. Many are partial, when only some of the Moon is covered by Earth’s shadow.

Calendar of Lunar Eclipses

• Date: 28 August 2007
  Eclipse Type: Total
  Where: E. Asia, Australia, Pacific, Americas
• Date: 21 February 2008
  Eclipse Type: Total
  Where: Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa
• Date: 16 August 2008
  Eclipse Type: Partial
  Where: S. America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia
• Date: 21 December 2010
  Eclipse Type: Total
  Where: E. Asia, Australia, Pacific, Americas, Europe
• Date: 15 June 2011
  Eclipse Type: Total
  Where: S. America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia
• Date: 10 December 2011
  Eclipse Type: Total
  Where: Europe, E. Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific