Stunning rare ‘blood moon’ caught on camera by photographers before it disappears for years

Lucky skygazers have been treated to a rare blood moon that graced Australian skies and have shared remarkable images of its beauty.

A rare blood moon is set to be visible next Tuesday.

A rare lunar event that turns Earth’s moon blood red has stunned Australians who were lucky enough to get a glimpse of it.

Thousands turned their heads to the sky to see the extraordinary event, which won’t happen again until 2025.

The first visible eclipse of the year was seen from Australia and New Zealand. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

The blood moon in Fish Creek, some 230 kilometres southeast of Melbourne. Picture: AFP

The 'Blood Moon' as seen from Williamstown in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

A blood moon occurs when the sun, Earth and the moon align in such a way that the moon passes into Earth’s shadow. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

My best shot tonight #lunareclipsepic.twitter.com/HkRv8lDe9L

— Oliver Seiler (@0seiler) November 8, 2022

A blood moon occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align in a perfect way, causing the moon to pass into the planet’s shadow.

Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker said this total lunar eclipse gave off a reddish hue to the moon’s surface.

Almost totality! #LunarEclipsepic.twitter.com/VMuNpEQkke

— Nicole Mortillaro (@NebulousNikki) November 8, 2022

“While the Earth casts a shadow into space, a little bit of sunlight skims through the Earth’s atmosphere and into space,” he said.

“Just as sunrise and sunset are an orange or reddish colour, so is this light that skims through the Earth‘s atmosphere and out into space.”

He said Tuesday would likely be the last chance to glimpse the rare spectacle until 2025.

A blood moon from 2021.

Another blood moon may not occur for another three years, Dr Brad Tucker explained.

Dr Tucker explained this was because the moon’s orbit was not in perfect alignment with the sun and the Earth and, as such, only partial lunar eclipses were possible.

“The moon wobbles by about five degrees as it orbits around the Earth,” he said.

Last year, a super blood moon – caused by a combination of a super moon, a total lunar eclipse and a pink moon event – was visible across Australian skies.

Tuesday’s blood moon can be visible with telescopes and binoculars.