Millions across China witnessed a celestial spectacle early Monday as the first total lunar eclipse in nearly three years painted the moon a dramatic crimson hue. The event, lasting over an hour, occurred when Earth cast its shadow completely over the moon during perfect orbital alignment.
Clear skies allowed residents from Beijing to Guangzhou to observe the 'blood moon' phenomenon with unaided eyes. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view directly and occur when sunlight filters through Earth's atmosphere, scattering blue wavelengths and leaving only red light to reach the moon's surface.
"This eclipse was particularly striking due to recent atmospheric conditions," noted a Beijing-based astronomy enthusiast group in a social media post. The event drew widespread social media engagement, with hashtags about the red moon trending across Chinese platforms.
While lunar eclipses occur globally, this event held special significance for Chinese skywatchers as the first visible total eclipse since November 2022. The next comparable lunar eclipse in the region is predicted for September 2025.
