Blood moon: Total lunar eclipse seen over Americas

STARGAZERRS in North and South America were treated to a full lunar eclipse - at least those fortunate enough to have clear skies.

The moon glows a red hue over the Goddess of Liberty statue atop the Capitol in Austin, Texas. Picture: AP

The Moon was eclipsed by the Earth’s shadow early today, beginning at around 1am EDT (0500 GMT) for five-and-a-half hours. The total phase of the eclipse lasted just 78 minutes.

For some, the Moon appeared red-orange because of all the sunsets and sunrises shimmering from Earth, thus the name “blood moon”.

It is the first of four eclipses this year and the first of four total lunar eclipses this year and next, while a solar eclipse is also due in two weeks.

Nasa’s moon-orbiting spacecraft, LADEE, survived the eclipse. Scientists had feared LADEE might freeze up in the cold darkness.