NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Observes a Lunar Eclipse Captures Earth and Moon in Amazing Timelapse

NASA's Lucy spacecraft observed the May 15-16, 2022, total lunar eclipse from a unique vantage point, 64 million miles (100 million km) from the Earth, nearly 70% of the distance between the Earth and the Sun. Using its high-resolution panchromatic camera, L'LORRI, Lucy was able to watch as the Earth cast its shadow on the Moon. At this distance, the Earth and Moon appeared only 0.2 degrees apart to Lucy, having the same separation as a car’s tail-lights as viewed from a quarter-mile (400 m) away.

In this timelapse video, the Earth is seen in the left (its rotation clearly visible) while the Moon (on the right, brightened sixfold to increase its visibility) disappears from view as it passes into the Earth’s shadow. The video covers a period of almost three hours, from 9:40 p.m. EDT on May 15 to 12:30 a.m. EDT on May 16. The observations ended before the Moon emerged from the shadow.

The Lucy spacecraft launched in October 2021. It is currently traveling back towards Earth for a gravity assist on October 16, 2022, to help propel it on its journey to the Trojan asteroids.

Credit: NASA (TWAN)