Total lunar eclipse shines eerie red in night sky: See photos of rare blood moon

Stargazers on nearly one half of the world had a chance to witness a total lunar eclipse overnight, as a rare cosmic lineup caused the moon to turn a striking shade of red.

The phenomenon, which hasn’t been glimpsed in the United States and North America since 2022, was visible in some way to all Americans between Thursday night and Friday morning – including those in Hawaii and Alaska.

The process to create the stunning celestial sight is a complex one requiring the moon to not only be full, but for the Earth to pass perfectly between it and the sun. With Earth’s shadow cast over it, the moon appears to us to be dimmer and more reddish than usual, which is what lends it the nickname “blood moon.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the intricate explanation behind a lunar eclipse, USA TODAY has you covered. But if you just want to see some cool photos of the blood moon, you’ve come to the right place: