Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-19-2025

Abstract

A lunar eclipse is happening on Pi Day this year.

Lunar eclipses occur when Earth lines up between the Sun and the Moon, allowing the Moon to fall in our planet’s shadow. Although the Moon gets much darker, we can still see the shrouded satellite glow red and orange during a total eclipse. Earth’s atmosphere refracts sunlight, changing its trajectory and allowing some light to shine on the Moon. This is the light we see at dawn and dusk, when the sky turns from blue to yellow or orange. Thus, the eclipsed Moon is illuminated by all of Earth’s sunrises and sunsets.

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Comments

This article was published in the Inside Out column of the News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana, IL) and is available to read in The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana, IL) through the NewsBank database: Earth's shadow will blanket the moon during a lunar eclipse on March 14.

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