<Tr> <Td> September 28, 2015 </Td> <Td> <P> January 31, 2018 </P> </Td> </Tr> <P> January 31, 2018 </P> <P> A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind Earth and into its shadow . This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and the Moon are aligned (in syzygy) exactly or very closely so, with the planet in between . Hence, a lunar eclipse can occur only on the night of a full moon . The type and length of an eclipse depend on the Moon's position relative to its orbital nodes . </P> <P> During a total lunar eclipse, Earth completely blocks direct sunlight from reaching the Moon . The only light reflected from the lunar surface has been refracted by Earth's atmosphere . This light appears reddish for the same reason that a sunset or sunrise does: the Rayleigh scattering of bluer light . Due to this reddish color, a totally eclipsed Moon is sometimes called a blood moon . </P>

Arrival of the moon in the earths shadow