PHOTOS: Moon turns red over Central Texas during total lunar eclipse

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Central Texans up in the early hours of Friday morning were treated to a celestial sight: a total lunar eclipse.The moon appeared to turn red as it passed through the darkest part of Earth's shadow, called the umbra. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called "blood moons" because of the red color.

During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth is perfectly positioned between the sun and moon, blocking most of the sunlight — especially colors with shorter wavelengths like blues and violets. Longer wavelengths like red and orange are better at passing through Earth's atmosphere and reaching the moon, according NASA.The lunar phenomenon was visible to all of the U.



S. and the majority of the Western Hemisphere, according to NASA.Did you get a photo of the lunar eclipse? Send it to us at reportit@kxan.

com..