On the evening of May 15, 2022, Earth passed between the Sun and the Moon, blocking sunlight and casting a shadow on the lunar surface. ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti witnessed this lunar eclipse from the International Space Station and captured it in a series of photographs.

During a lunar eclipse, the Earth’s atmosphere scatters sunlight. Blue light from the Sun scatters and longer wavelength red, orange and yellow light passes through, turning our Moon red.

An image of a lunar eclipse as seen from the International Space Station. Credit: ESA-S.Cristoforetti

In these images, the Moon appears to be playing hide and seek with one of the International Space Station’s solar panels:

A partially eclipsed Moon playing hide and seek with the International Space Station’s solar panel. Credit: ESA-S.Cristoforetti

A partially eclipsed Moon playing hide and seek with the International Space Station’s solar panel. Credit: ESA-S.Cristoforetti

A partially eclipsed Moon playing hide and seek with the International Space Station’s solar panel. Credit: ESA-S.Cristoforetti

Samantha lives and works aboard the Space Station for her second mission, “Minerva”. Learn more about Samantha and the Minerva mission.