Re: Full and dark blood red moon

Hi Rosie, The moon does indeed turn red during lunar eclipses. For a full explanation, see this MAD Scientist answer.

As to whether what you saw was a lunar eclipse, it depends on what you meant by "a few weeks", and also where you are. There was a lunar eclipse on July 28, 1999 which peaked at 11:46 UT (UT means, basically, what used to be called "Greenwich Mean Time"). So if you're on the west coast of North America or in Hawaii you would have seen some of the eclipse at 2 or 3 am.

If it wasn't a lunar eclipse, what was it? I can't tell you for sure, but sometimes pollution, escpecially smoke from forest fires or ash from volcanic eruptions, can make the moon look red.

Pauline