Stunning Images: "Blood Moon" Eclipse and Aurora Borealis Captured from Alaska
So Here's the Deal:
Last week's cosmic coincidence left astrophotographers captivated as the "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse and the Northern Lights put on a mesmerizing dance in the night sky—and one photographer's journey to Alaska to witness this magical moment paid off big time.
In a narrow window on March 13, 2025, when totality—the period when the lunar surface darkens a reddish hue—lasted only 65 minutes, nature unleashed an extraordinary display. Phrarain Dan Zafra, an astrophotographer, managed to capture these twin celestial wonders on camera.
"Bam! Right at the peak of totality, an aurora substorm crackled across the heavens," Zafra shared with Capture The Atlas.
Aurora Borealis Strikes During 'Blood Moon'
Though this celestial mashup wasn't specifically predicted, the sun's peak solar activity period has been triggering plentiful auroras. Zafra seized the opportunity and hitched a ride to Northern Alaska, fingers crossed for clear skies and a well-timed aurora.
"I came all the way up here just for a shot at this, and by some freakin' stroke of luck, I nailed it," Zafra exclaimed. He had numerous cameras rolling, capturing the moon from multiple angles, from close-ups to wide shots, even a time-lapse of the entire event.
What makes this fairy-tale moment more unbelievable is that, during a substorm, the aurora appears as sudden, bright arcs, racing swiftly across the sky. Zafra finds himself the lucky owner of a one-of-a-kind image, showcasing two breathtaking cosmic events happening simultaneously.
More Spectacular Celestial Snaps
Other astrophotographers in Alaska bagged similar images, with Todd Salat from Aurora Hunter capturing the "Blood Moon" bathed in aurora light from Denali National Park. Salat described the event's extraordinary timing on Facebook: "The dissipating clouds in the eastern sky where the moon emerged gave way to aurora streamers as the lunar eclipse reached totality. One heck of a lucky break!"
Pictures from the "Blood Moon" eclipse have since been taking the internet by storm, with some featuring unique shots from beyond Earth. Firefly's Blue Ghost spacecraft, which landed in the Sea of Crises on March 2, snapped some stunning photographs of a total solar eclipse as both a blazing diamond ring and a fiery red ring of sunshine.
The eclipse took place during Solar Cycle 25, a time when solar storms become more frequent and intense. This "Blood Moon" eclipse also hit during March, often the finest month for aurora activity due to the "equinox effect." With Earth's axis tilting perpendicularly against the sun, a special interaction between solar wind and Earth's magnetic field weakens our magnetic shield, allowing more charged particles to interact with Earth's atmosphere and paint the sky with vibrant auroras.
So here's to good fortune, clear skies, and eyes wide open!
- In 2025, astrophotographer Phrarain Dan Zafra is expected to capture another remarkable celestial event during the total lunar eclipse, known as the "Blood Moon".
- Despite not being specifically predicted, nature may once again unleash an extraordinary display of the "Blood Moon" and the Northern Lights in 2025, just as it did in the past.
- An aurora alert and northern lights forecast for 2025 would be wise for astrophotographers, especially in regions like Alaska, where the Northern Lights tend to be particularly active.
