5. Lunar Eclipse

Total lunar eclipses are not uncommon. There were two this year. But it is somewhat rare for one to make the Moon this red.

The coppery color is created when sunlight is refracted through Earth's atmosphere, falling on the Moon even though it is entirely shadowed, by Earth, from direct sunlight.

The eclipse of Nov. 8-9, more than any before it, was also a digital event, recorded by countless amateur astrophotographers with digital cameras. Many of them were taking their first picture of the night sky, and the results were delightful. Bill Lohrer made this image of the Moon just before it entered total eclipse, from Long Island, NY.

[Story and many more eclipse pictures]

Next page: Incredible Shrinking Planet