Lunar eclipse: How the world saw the moon turn red

AUSTRALIANS joined the millions of others who raced outside to watch the rare lunar eclipse, and captured it for themselves.

MILLIONS of people around the world stayed up late or raced outside to watch the rare lunar eclipse overnight, which turned the moon red.

As the hashtag #BloodMoonEclipse started trending worldwide on Twitter, many stargazers turned to social media to post pictures of what they were seeing.

MORE: How the lunar eclipse works

Many in North America started to see the moon slowly disappear, as it began its journey to pass behind Earth, into its shadow.

More pictures of the blood moon

Here’s how it looked close-up from a professional photographer’s view.

News_Image_File: The moon is seen ... as it heads into a total lunar eclipse in Miami, Florida. Picture: Joe Raedle

This is how watchers captured it on their smartphones and cameras.

Update on the #BloodMoonEclipse ... It's still a moon. pic.twitter.com/r4pmXy6vHs

Awaiting the #BloodMoonEclipse and my iPhone + binoculars + @dannyhoyt got this gem. Who needs telescopes? (We do) pic.twitter.com/l7q1yqwpuy

#bloodmooneclipse pic.twitter.com/nBRh9HMgzF

This #BloodMoonEclipse is rad. pic.twitter.com/2CikgkUntm

When it started to turn a slight shade of red, social media users got particularly excited.

Here’s another professional shot.

News_Image_File: A lunar eclipse begins over southern California ... as seen from the San Gabriel Valley, east of downtown Los Angeles. Picture: Frederic J. Brown

This is how it was seen by stargazers in Australia.

Amazing. RT @cityofmelbourne: Red Moon rising over the MCG #Melbourne #redmoon #bloodmoon http://t.co/I8Vy0HmAXG pic.twitter.com/4z1dPjfuuA

#bloodmoon from Melbourne: pic.twitter.com/x5NKWyoe00

Red moon! #LunarEclipse #LunarEclipse2014 #Brisbane #BloodMoon #BloodMoonEclipse pic.twitter.com/0FjOjdB11U

The #BloodMoonEclipse from Australia... (grainy pic but...)Looks pretty cool! pic.twitter.com/59FK82IU9Q

News_Module: Red moon from the Gold Coast

These images were captured across the globe.

Almost caught it before the haze rolled in...#bloodmoon pic.twitter.com/zAqJaLSvgc

This is how Guatemala City saw it.

@NASAGoddardPix awesome view in Guatemala City pic.twitter.com/EIMGBEH9pw

It was clear to see for all in the Dominican Republic too.

@NASAGoddardPix #totaleclipse #bloodmoon @NASA_Marshall @NASASolarSystem Bloody Moon on Santo Domingo, D.R. pic.twitter.com/HCdJVzzUqa

These images were taken in the US and posted on Instagram.

News_Module: The moon turning red

News_Module: The Moon in Denver, Colorado

The #bloodmoon and surrounding stars from Florida. Break in the clouds #BloodMoonEclipse #dslr #canon #fl pic.twitter.com/6N8DHrquH7

Taken 20 minutes after total eclipse... blood moon! #bloodmoon #BloodMoonEclipse #BloodMoon2014 #lunareclipse2014 pic.twitter.com/rbcR9sXYXh

Telescope #iphoneonly #bloodmooneclipse pic.twitter.com/f2ieeAn38m

Who needs to write papers when you can look at the moon #bloodredmoon #lunareclipse pic.twitter.com/yRZVQkybkH

My view right now of the #BloodMoonEclipse! #bloodmoon #lunareclipse http://t.co/Dt98hdPJDN pic.twitter.com/HF7IUibLMN

Pure beauty. I love nature and astronomy . Doesn't get any better. #LunarEclipse #BloodMoonEclipse #redmoon #Arizona pic.twitter.com/nlhjqf2Yve

It took me a lot of tries to take this pic #LunarEclipse #bloodmoon pic.twitter.com/7wF7sX1Gcd

This Instagram image was taken in Nicaragua.

News_Module: Red Moon

Here’s another professional image taken from the Mt Lemmon Skycenter in Arizona in the US, which was posted on Twitter.

Pic from the Mt Lemmon Skycenter -5 #BloodMoonEclipse #totallunareclipse #eclipse #eclipselunar #lunareclipse #moon pic.twitter.com/smd0ob4iPI

This image was taken from Hawaii.

How awesome is this? #bloodmoon #LunarEclipse pic.twitter.com/Y6P3TfFgQY

Took some pictures of the #bloodmoon pic.twitter.com/IhaYbUZpRw

This picture was taken in Texas.

Totality in #Texas. #LunarEclipse #BloodMoon2014 pic.twitter.com/cLUHweLVOY

Then the Moon starting to slowly return as the eclipse entered its final phase.

This is how it was seen in Melbourne.

#LunarEclipse from #Melbourne, coming back out of the shadow. pic.twitter.com/QhhbkrQb7P

Another view from Australia.

A view from down under RT @catbat_1: @NASAGoddardPix Australian view 6.56pm pic.twitter.com/9D4Sub4dyv #BloodMoonEclipse #eclipse

More photos from around the world.

Moon is peeking back out, and I’m headed to bed. Thanks to all for a fun #LunarEclipse Twitter party! pic.twitter.com/cg7jkduMCC

The #LunarEclipse is now moving into it's last phase as the moon becomes brighter... #Lunar pic.twitter.com/mHMbElXWqz

News_Module: The Moon returns

Moon still gorgeous as #LunarEclipse comes close to an end. pic.twitter.com/j5kFlJnxg9