Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2026 March 5
   [2]A desert landscape with a large volcanic land feature jutting out in
    the center. Above is a series of eclipse phases of the moon traveling
     from the top left downward toward the peak of the central volcanic
   landmark. The phases show the moon transitioning from a white full moon
    to a dark moon and into a red moon once it connects with the landmark
       in the image. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                   Total Lunar Eclipse over Tsé Bit'a'í
        Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Satoru Murata; Text: [4]Keighley
             Rockcliffe ([5]NASA [6]GSFC, [7]UMCP, [8]CRESST II)

   Explanation: Earlier this week, Earth’s shadow swept across the full
   [9]Moon in the year’s only [10]total lunar eclipse. This stunning
   sequence combines images showing the Moon’s path across the night sky.
   Each lunar image captures our planet’s shadow gradually engulfing the
   Moon, culminating in its red glow. Sunlight [11]scatters and refracts
   as it passes through Earth’s atmosphere toward the Moon. Shorter
   wavelength light (blue and green) [12]scatters more efficiently,
   leaving [13]red, orange, and yellow hues to paint the lunar surface.
   [14]Tsé Bit'a'í (”rock with wings”, also known as Shiprock), located in
   [15]Navajo Nation, provides a powerful [16]volcanic foreground central
   to this photo and [17]to stories of Navajo origin, adventure, and
   heroism. As the first full moon of the [18]lunar new year, this eclipse
   held significance across cultures. [19]Visible from East Asia to North
   America, this eclipse united observers across great distances, a cosmic
   reminder that we share the same sky.

                       Tomorrow's picture: astrosphere
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [31]Robert Nemiroff ([32]MTU) & [33]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([34]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [35]Specific rights apply.
            [36]NASA Web Privacy, [37]Accessibility, [38]Notices;
                A service of: [39]ASD at [40]NASA / [41]GSFC,
                         [42]NASA Science Activation
                           & [43]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2603/EclipseSequence_Murata_1080.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/realastronomad/
   4. https://www.kerockcliffe.com/
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/
   6. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   7. https://csst.umbc.edu/directory/
   8. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/moon/
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/moon/eclipses/
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/03_behaviors/
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-2ekH1QPpY
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250911.html
  14. https://discovernavajo.com/shiprock-peak/
  15. https://www.navajo-nsn.gov/
  16. https://newmexiconomad.com/shiprock/
  17. https://nativememoryproject.org/story/shiprock-the-monster-birds/
  18. https://asia.si.edu/whats-on/events/celebrations/lunar-new-year-celebration/
  19. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/march-2026-blood-moon-lunar-eclipse-pictures
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260304.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  24. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  26. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  29. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260305
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260306.html
  31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  33. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  34. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  39. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  42. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  43. http://www.mtu.edu/