NHK



 

Sky watchers across much of Japan have enjoyed an enormously rare celestial spectacle -- Uranus hidden by a totally eclipsed moon.

The lunar eclipse began at around 6:09 p.m. on Tuesday and peaked between around 7:16 and 8:42 p.m. The moon returned to its full phase around 9:49 p.m.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and the moon align, with Earth casting its shadow completely over its natural satellite. But some sunlight still passes through Earth's atmosphere and reaches the moon, causing it to appear dark red.

People across most of Japan were also treated to another phenomenon, in which Uranus hid behind the moon.

Stargazers, particularly in Tokyo and areas to the west, were able to watch the display when the moon was fully eclipsed.

The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan says this is the first time in 442 years that a total lunar eclipse and a planetary eclipse have been observed simultaneously from the country.

The observatory added that the next time people in Japan will be able to see such a rare celestial show is 322 years from now.