During the eclipse, the Earth passed between the sun and moon, blocking light from hitting the lunar surface, making the moon darker than usual. The moon turned a red hue, becoming a “blood moon,” due to the sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching its surface.

Stargazers on nearly one half of the world witnessed a total lunar eclipse overnight, as a rare cosmic lineup caused the moon to turn a shade of red.

Clouds drifted in and out of the D.C. area before dawn Friday, offering enough open sky for photographers around the region to capture views of the total lunar eclipse. The spectacle began at 11:57 p.