Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Astronomy Picture of the Day - The Umbra of Earth
apod, nasa ^ | 11 Sep, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Wang Letian (Eyes at Night)

Posted on 09/11/2025 12:36:11 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: The dark, inner shadow of planet Earth is called the umbra. Shaped like a cone extending into space, it has a circular cross section most easily seen during a lunar eclipse. And on the night of September 7/8 the Full Moon passed near the center of Earth's umbral cone, entertaining eclipse watchers around much of our fair planet, including parts of Antarctica, Australia, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Recorded from Zhangjiakou City, China, this timelapse composite image uses successive pictures from the total lunar eclipse, progressing left to right, to reveal the curved cross-section of the umbral shadow sliding across the Moon. Sunlight scattered by the atmosphere into Earth's umbra causes the lunar surface to appear reddened during totality. But close to the umbra's edge, the limb of the eclipsed Moon shows a distinct blue hue. The blue eclipsed moonlight originates as rays of sunlight pass through layers high in the upper stratosphere, colored by ozone that scatters red light and transmits blue. In the total phase of this leisurely lunar eclipse, the Moon was completely within the Earth's umbra for about 83 minutes.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).
1 posted on 09/11/2025 12:36:11 PM PDT by MtnClimber
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.


2 posted on 09/11/2025 12:38:26 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

3 posted on 09/11/2025 12:38:49 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

4 posted on 09/11/2025 12:39:43 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Interesting.


5 posted on 09/11/2025 12:40:00 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

So cool! :)


6 posted on 09/11/2025 12:46:03 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Hmmm. I’m seeing emanations from that penumbra. Betcha the Supreme Court can see them too!


7 posted on 09/11/2025 12:58:23 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt (Fascist, deplorable, and proud of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: 17th Miss Regt

I don’t totally understand how our Universe actually ‘works’ but it’s still the best thing going. :)


8 posted on 09/11/2025 2:49:22 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Let me Me help;
In The Beginning...


9 posted on 09/11/2025 3:12:18 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Big Red Badger

Well, YES! I understand THAT part - but the ‘mechanics’ of it always confuse me. ;)


10 posted on 09/11/2025 4:23:27 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

I Was an Indycar Mechanic and that
Also Baffles Me!
We can Ask Jesus....He Knows!


11 posted on 09/11/2025 4:40:53 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Big Red Badger

If I get to Heaven before you, I’ll ping ya, LOL!


12 posted on 09/11/2025 4:47:17 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

That Quacks me Up!


13 posted on 09/11/2025 5:04:55 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Imagine the ocean tides with 5 moons!


14 posted on 09/11/2025 8:06:37 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (Making money now. Still want much more.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson