It's December 21, the winter solstice. And, if you got up early enough and the skies were clear, you witnessed a total eclipse of the moon.
Hanging high in the sky, the moon slowly turned from bright silver into a red disk early Tuesday. Actually in New Jersey it was an orange-ish color, the say from pollution.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth casts its shadow on the full moon, blocking the sun's rays that otherwise reflect off the moon's surface. Some indirect sunlight still pierces through to give the moon its eerie hue.
The 3 and a half hour eclipse was visible from North and Central America where skies were clear. Portions of Europe and Asia only caught part of the show.
Since the year's only total lunar eclipse coincided with winter solstice, the moon glowed high in the sky. The last time this occurred was more than three centuries ago on Dec. 21, 1638. It will happen again on Dec. 21, 2094, according to U.S. Naval Observatory spokesman Geoff Chester.
I can just imagine the views from the New England mountains! Not great pictures, but reminders of what I'll see again in 2094! LOL
Jersey Shore Views...Lunar Eclipse 2010
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