Partial Lunar Eclipse: Moon’s Tribute 50 Years After Historic Apollo 11 Launch

On the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic launch, it was almost as if the moon was paying its own tribute.

The UK and most of the world was treated to a partial lunar eclipse on Tuesday night, the last one until November 2021.

Clear skies across most of the UK allowed the cosmic spectacle to be seen from around 9.07pm until 1.17am this morning.

Partially eclipsed moon setting over Dunedin in New Zealand this morning. #moon #LunarEclipse #NewZealand #astronomy pic.twitter.com/45IUrX1Kdo

— Ian Griffin (@iangriffin) July 16, 2019

Among the other parts of the world to see it were Australia, New Zealand, Africa and much of Asia. It missed most of North America, however.

A collection of some of the best images we obtained from the #LunarEclipse before clouds rolled in… (1) pic.twitter.com/2IraaA1RFJ

— Lancaster University Astronomy Society (@LancasterAstro) July 16, 2019

A lunar eclipse is when the moon passes directly behind the earth and into its shadow, darkened but still visible.

It can only happen during a full moon and when the sun, earth and moon are exactly or very closely aligned.

The event came on the same day that the world marked five decades since Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins blasted into space for what would become the first moon landing.

It was not until 21 July that the team actually reached the moon, however.

The mission was a huge moment for humanity and pictures were beamed around the world as Armstrong said those now famous words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.