The wait is over! Witness the awe-inspiring first photos of the 2026 blood moon total lunar eclipse.
A breathtaking celestial event has graced the skies over North America, and while the total eclipse phase has passed, the visual spectacle continues to unfold. Earth's shadow cast a mesmerizing spell on the full moon, turning it into a captivating blood moon, and the initial images are truly extraordinary.
Stunning photographs of the partial and total eclipse phases are spreading across the internet, thanks to the talented photographers in America and Oceania. These images capture the moon's beauty as it undergoes this rare transformation.
But here's where it gets even more fascinating:
Mirko Harnisch and the Dunedin Astronomical Society shared an incredible shot of the partial eclipse phase from New Zealand. This image, taken during The Virtual Telescope Project livestream, showcases the moment when Earth's inner shadow started its gradual passage across the moon, dimming the lunar seas on the western side. Interestingly, this full moon, known as the Worm Moon, gets its name from the season when earthworms and beetles emerge as the soil thaws.
Another captivating photo was taken by Ted Aljibe, who captured the partially eclipsed full moon rising over Manila, Philippines, with Earth's shadow gracefully covering the lower section.
Time and Date contributed a remarkable image of the lunar disk, where a small crescent peeks out from behind the planet's umbral shadow. This photo reveals the dark basaltic plains of Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis, ancient lava-flooded regions on the moon's surface.
Harnisch and the Dunedin Astronomical Society managed to capture the lunar disk during totality in New Zealand, showcasing the worm moon's transformation into a blood moon as sunlight refracted through Earth's atmosphere.
A different perspective from Time and Date's mobile observatory in Yucca Valley, California, shows the blood moon with the lunar seas' outlines visible, silently drifting behind Earth, hidden from the sun's rays.
And finally, Phil Walker's photograph from northern New Zealand captures the full moon during totality, illuminated by the combined light of every sunrise and sunset on our planet.
Stay tuned to our live blog for continuous updates on this extraordinary event. The eclipse will conclude at 9:23 a.m. EST (1423 GMT) when Earth's penumbral shadow leaves the lunar disk.
Share your experience: If you captured photos of this remarkable blood moon eclipse, send them to spacephotos@space.com, along with your thoughts, name, and location. Let's create a collective memory of this celestial wonder!
Anthony Wood, a passionate sky enthusiast, joined Space.com in April 2025, having previously written for IGN, New Atlas, and Gizmodo. He eagerly anticipates the return of astronauts to the moon, marking a new era in human space exploration.
