Millions in Americas and Australasia gaze at full lunar eclipse

The earth’s shadow falls across the moon, changing its colour – and prompting millions of people in the Americas to gaze at the night sky. The first total lunar eclipse in two and a half years was seen across large parts of the United States, Central and South America, Australia and New Zealand. Everywhere, people gathered to catch a glimpse of the so-called “blood moon”. “We can see it because there are no clouds at all. This is an opportunity not to be missed,” said a man with a telescope in Mexico City. Many North Americans did miss it though – but there was little they could do about the overcast skies or rain. They will have to wait a few years for the next full lunar eclipse in the US – which according to NASA is due in 2019.