Total Lunar Eclipse

Last night (or more accurately, early this morning!) I stayed up to watch the first total lunar eclipse of 2014, which is being called the "Blood Moon" due to its blood red hue.

Mars also made its closest approach to Earth since 2008 last night, with the bright star Spica visible just below and to the right of the moon.  This will be the only time in our lifetime that we will see a total eclipse of the moon on the same night as the closest approach of Mars, so I'm glad I sacrificed a little sleep to sit in the quiet pre-dawn hours and witness this amazing view.

The next total lunar eclipse will occur on October 8, 2014.