A Total Lunar Eclipse Over North Carolina

Explanation: This coming Tuesday, our Moon will appear to disappear . A similar total lunar eclipse is seen above in a time lapse image captured in 2003 over North Carolina , USA . As the Earth moves between the Moon and the Sun, the Earth's shadow fell on the moon, making it quite dark . In the above picture the Earth's rotation, multiple exposures, and digital enhancements are used to create a time-lapse effect that dramatizes how the Moon looked as it faded out and re-appeared during the three hour lunar eclipse . As the Earth's shadow engulfed the Moon , the lunar images became less and less bright, practically disappearing during totality . At this time, the Moon, which normally shines by reflecting direct sunlight, shone only by sunlight refracted through the Earth's atmosphere . The next total lunar eclipse won't be visible from Earth until February 2008 .