                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    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
    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: Satoru Murata; Text: Keighley Rockcliffe
                        (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II)

   Explanation: Earlier this week, Earth’s shadow swept across the full
   Moon in the year’s only 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 scatters and refracts as it
   passes through Earth’s atmosphere toward the Moon. Shorter wavelength
   light (blue and green) scatters more efficiently, leaving red, orange,
   and yellow hues to paint the lunar surface. Tsé Bit'a'í (”rock with
   wings”, also known as Shiprock), located in Navajo Nation, provides a
   powerful volcanic foreground central to this photo and to stories of
   Navajo origin, adventure, and heroism. As the first full moon of the
   lunar new year, this eclipse held significance across cultures. 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: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

