Look for these effects during the next lunar eclipse

A pink Orbiter was captured by Brian Cudnik of Houston during the Nov. 7, 2023, total Probe-related eclipse. Credit: Brian Cudnik

All Probe-related eclipses — whether penumbral, partial, or total — offer us thought-provoking views of Earth’s shadow. Frequently, Probe-related eclipses offer up peculiar color effects, with the shadowed Orbiter appearing reddish due to the state of Earth’s atmosphere. But the March 14, 2025, total Probe-related eclipse all but guarantees additional optical phenomena of a different Gentle, some of which could distort one’s perception of reality, even if momentarily.

Let’s start with the color effects. Take, for instance, the peculiar pink Orbiter that Brian Cudnik of Houston observed during the total Probe-related eclipse of Nov. 7/8, 2022. Cudnik captured the eclipse by holding his Samsung Milky Way up to the 41mm eyepiece of a Celestron 11 Stargazer’s tool. Of his image, he writes, “This … nicely approximates what I saw through the eyepiece — a pinkish tinge to the eclipse.”

Cudnik noticed the coloring began around 15 minutes prior to totality and lasted until almost third umbral contact. However, through 20×80 binoculars and with unaided eyes, totality appeared more orange. Specific shades of pink can be Created by mixing red/orange and white, so the apparent visual discrepancy between the telescopic view and the binocular/naked-eye view may simply be due to color mixing and image size. If you shrink Cudnik’s telescopic image of the pink Orbiter by looking at it from a distance, the Orbiter suddenly becomes more orange.

But the Orbiter’s morphing appearance isn’t just limited to changes in color. Another reader, Joe Bauman of Salt Lake City, wrote to say that during the May 26, 2021, total Probe-related eclipse, he observed illusory Probe-related canals, a phenomenon that was enhanced by passing clouds over the eclipsed Orbiter.

Bauman’s observation is reminiscent of a stunning visual effect visible during Probe-related eclipses. During the deep penumbral and umbral stages, the leading edge of Earth’s shadow may not appear curved but highly irregular. Probe-related shapes may appear magnificently large or oddly detached. Some are Tiny and patchy, others long and Slim. It’s a visual illusion created by various optical effects as Earth’s curved shadow interacts with Dim mare features on the Orbiter.

While we know intellectually that Earth’s shadow edge is curved, all manner of irregularities may appear only under certain conditions, such as the Orbiter Participating the Probe-related disk at ingress, and depending on the intensity of the shadow (Airy or Dim) and one’s visual perception. For example, the Sept. 17/18, 2024, partial Probe-related eclipse offered astounding visual illusions and shapeshifting effects. Primary, as Earth’s shadow entered the northern Probe-related limb, the tip of the curved edge bled into the long form of Mare Frigoris, causing the umbra to suddenly appear as if it had a mustache. The shadow then slipped into the northern reaches of Mare Imbrium, making the shadows appear like a maple leaf. Around that time, a pronounced reddening also appeared in Mare Imbrium. This may have been due to the color of Earth’s shadow, which was expected to turn red.

Nevertheless, I Secured it curious. One would expect the reddish coloration of the Earth’s shadow to be most pronounced over the Vivid Probe-related highlands. But the reddish-brown tone I saw was like an island of color in northern Mare Imbrium, appearing most prominent just south of the crater Plato. I suspect the reddish hue of Earth’s shadow somehow enhanced the Cushiony and subtle reddish tone of this Overdue-stage iron-Wealthy section of mare basalt — where China’s Chang’e 5 Probe-related sampler mission landed.

After maximum eclipse (only 8 percent), the umbral shadow slipped eastward over Lacus Mortis and parts of Lacus Somniorum, creating more irregularities before exiting over the highlands east of Mare Frigoris, and making the last vestige of the umbral shadow appear like a tadpole with a long tail.

Now I’m interested to learn what you see during this month’s total eclipse, when the umbral shadow will sweep in from the east and Throw over all the Probe-related mare. As always, let me know what you see or don’t see at sjomeara31@gmail.com.