Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2026 September 1
   [2]The Moon is seen in front of clouds but with part of its lower left
   being unusually dark. On the upper right, a foreground airplane appears
    flying into the disk of the Moon. Please see the explanation for more
                            detailed information.

                            A Plane Lunar Eclipse
                       Image Credit: [3]Paulo Ferreira

   Explanation: Did you need to be on the right side of this airplane to
   see this eclipse? No. [4]Lunar eclipses are routinely seen from the
   [5]half of the Earth facing the Moon when the eclipse occurs, making
   them some of the most commonly witnessed astronomical events. You don't
   even need any [6]special equipment to see one -- just your [7]unaided
   eyes. Lunar eclipses are also some of the [8]most [9]photographed
   [10]astronomical [11]events because, unlike with a solar eclipse,
   [12]your eyes and camera do not have to look toward the bright [13]Sun.
   However, considering the [14]featured image taken [15]last week from
   [16]Portugal, if you were on the left side of [17]that airplane during
   takeoff, you might have trouble seeing it -- at first. But even then,
   [18]after takeoff, since [19]lunar eclipses typically last for hours,
   you might soon be able to safely cross the aisle(s) to see it.

                  Gallery: [20]Lunar Eclipse of 2026 August
       APOD's main NASA site is [21]moving: From [22]apod.nasa.gov to
                          [23]science.nasa.gov/apod
                    Tomorrow's picture: cultural eclipses
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [35]Robert Nemiroff ([36]MTU) & [37]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([38]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [39]Specific rights apply.
            [40]NASA Web Privacy, [41]Accessibility, [42]Notices;
                A service of: [43]ASD at [44]NASA / [45]GSFC,
                         [46]NASA Science Activation
                           & [47]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2608/PlaneEclipse_Ferreira_1059.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/paulofwild/
   4. https://science.nasa.gov/moon/eclipses/
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251221.html
   6. https://science.nasa.gov/asset/webb/components-of-webbs-scientific-instruments/
   7. https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/healthy-vision/how-eyes-work
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260825.html
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260305.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251103.html
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250324.html
  12. https://plus.unsplash.com/premium_photo-1753481184578-75816508791a
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
  14. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1064077302987513&set=a.1063776469684263
  15. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5672/
  16. https://user.iiasa.ac.at/~marek/fbook/04/geos/po.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130513.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240211.html
  19. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/eclipses/en/
  20. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=APOD.Sky&set=a.1063776469684263
  21. https://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?t=45023
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/
  23. https://science.nasa.gov/apod
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260831.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  28. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  30. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  33. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260901
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260902.html
  35. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  36. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  37. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  38. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  39. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  43. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  44. https://www.nasa.gov/
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  46. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  47. http://www.mtu.edu/