Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Science
Patrick Lum

Space stations, dark rituals and chorizo: the blood moon, as seen on social media

A bride poses for photo during a total lunar eclipse from in Brasilia, Brazil, July 27, 2018.
A bride poses for photo during a total lunar eclipse from in Brasilia, Brazil. Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

Amateur skywatchers and photographers from around the world – as well as the stargazing professionals – have sacrificed sleep to share spectacular images of the blood moon on social media.

NASA put up a handy explainer (even though North and Central America were left out of the shade), and streamed the eclipse’s progress from a variety of planetariums across the world.

Other space experts also made their contributions, including from the international space station.

Meanwhile, earth-based photographers shared incredible shots on social media as the moon rose.

Some observers also captured shots of Mars, as it seemed to drift along in the moon’s wake as it came closer to Earth than at any time in the last 15 years.

A few UK starwatchers got a decent view, but many were left disappointed as clouds and thunderstorms obscured the blood moon from view. After weeks of much-celebrated sunshine and warm weather, thunderstorms and banks of cloud obscured the view for many. The irony was not lost. One tweeted that they had captured a great shot of the moon, accompanied by a video of storm clouds.

Internet comedians and community teams also got in on the action, with Nintendo evoking the latest Zelda’s undead-raising blood moon, others making Star Wars references, and wrestler Brennan Williams preparing to battle a lunar eldritch horror.

Snack brand Moonpie also cast dark portents, while others declared it an generically auspicious time for strange rituals, or posted zoomed-in pictures of chorizo.

• This article was updated on 31 July 2018 to remove an artistic composite mistakenly included as a photograph of the blood moon over Paris.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Zendaya shares 'beautiful' wedding video with Tom Holland after AI hoax 'fooled' her family
The actress has fueled wedding rumours by sporting what looks like a wedding ring at recent events
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Careful with the Green Salsa, Says Federal Judge
"The green salsa, which Mr. Manz admitted he never sampled, smelled, or asked an employee regarding the contents before consuming, is the source of this litigation."
Reason
Reason
Scientists discover heavier version of proton with upgraded detector
Snappily named Xi-cc-plus, Cern physicists spotted the particle in shower of debris that lit up Large Hadron Collider
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Zendaya admits 'many people' in her life were tricked by fake AI wedding photos
Zendaya has opened up about those Tom Holland wedding rumours, and revealed even those close to her have been fooled by fake AI photos going viral online.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
49 Times People Ordered From Cheap Websites And The Products Were Hilariously Bad
Online shopping can feel like a gamble. The product photos promise something sleek, stylish, and exactly what you were hoping for but sometimes what arrives at your door tells a completely different story. Recently, people online began sharing the expectation vs. reality moments from their Temu and AliExpress purchases. From…
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
'Love Is Blind' Season 11: Everything We Know
Despite lingering criticism, the Netflix reality hit doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon.
Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play