What is a total lunar eclipse or blood moon?

Tonight, the moon has changed color into a vivid red. This is called a blood moon, the result of a total lunar eclipse.

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Tuesday, an eclipse happens when the sun, earth, and moon are aligned.

It is a lunar eclipse if the earth is in between the sun and moon. Because of this, the earth's shadow covers the moon.

There are three types of lunar eclipses. The penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the sun passes through the outer shadow of the earth, or the penumbra. This results in a less bright moon.

A partial lunar eclipse happens when the alignment of the sun, earth, and moon is not parallel. This is why only a part of the moon is covered by the shadow of the sun.

The total lunar eclipse tonight happened as the moon moves into the darkest shadow of the earth or the umbra.

“Halos lahat ng bansa na nasa night side kung san ‘yung oras ng lunar eclipse mangyayari, makikita,” said Astronomer Professor Edmund Rosales.

“Buong Pilipinas’ makikita ‘yun, hindi lang sa Maynila. At hindi natin kailangan gumamit ng mga solar filter. Basta clear ang sky, safe tingnan ang lunar eclipse,” he said.

At 7:04 p.m. tonight, the totality happened, or the part of the eclipse where the shadow of the earth covers the moon.

Following that, the maximum eclipse occurred, turning the moon bright red. It turns red because the brightness of the sun that passes through the earth’s atmosphere is filtered and only a red light is seen.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Astronomical Society set up three telescopes at Luneta Park in Manila which the public can use to view the total lunar eclipse. The group will stay there until 10 p.m.

The next blood moon happens on December 31, 2028. —Nika Roque/MGP, GMA Integrated News