Australia's skywatchers witnessed a rare blood moon on Tuesday night, as the moon appeared rust-coloured across the country, except in rain-affected regions. The total lunar eclipse was visible in clear skies, particularly over Brisbane, where the alignment occurred for about an hour at 9pm.
A total lunar eclipse happens when the Earth aligns perfectly between the sun and the moon, causing the moon to pass into Earth's shadow. The shadow filters sunlight through Earth's atmosphere, giving the moon a red hue. According to NASA, more dust or clouds in the atmosphere can make the moon appear redder.
Blood moons occur every 18 months to three years, but the next one is not expected anywhere in the world until 2029. While this was the last chance for a while, southern sky-watchers have other astronomical events to look forward to this year.
From April 19 to 22, planets Mercury, Mars, and Saturn will form a tight bunch in the eastern sky. The Geminid meteor shower will peak on December 15, best viewed before dawn. A supermoon, when a full moon coincides with the closest point in its orbit to Earth, will light up the sky on Christmas Eve.
