Rare views of the moon, Mars

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

NASA Hubble Heritage Team via AP

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the shadow of the earth covers part of the moon, Shanahan said. When that happens, the sun, earth and moon need to be aligned just right, not too high or not too low, he said.

Yesterday's partial eclipse started at about 2 a.m. and reached its intense point at about 3 a.m. It ended at about 5:40 a.m.

Partial lunar eclipses occur every six months, but are only visible on the night side of the planet, Shanahan said. The next one is scheduled for Dec. 29-30, he said.

Meanwhile, in an image that scientists call the sharpest ever made from Earth, the planet Mars (bottom photo) is seen covered by frosty white water ice clouds and swirling orange duststorms above a rusty landscape. The view by the Hubble Space Telescope was taken June 26.