Mystery #2Tier 2space / shadows

Why does the Moon turn red in a lunar eclipse?

On certain nights the bright full Moon slowly darkens and turns a deep, eerie red, a 'blood Moon', before brightening again. Nothing is covering it. So what dims the Moon and turns it red?

A total lunar eclipse: the full Moon glowing a deep coppery red as it sits in Earth's shadow, a 'blood Moon'. — Photo: Brucewaters, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Your guess

What's your hunch about what makes the full Moon darken and glow red during a lunar eclipse?

There's no single magic word to type, have a go in your own words, then reveal the answer to see how close you got.

Make a guess to unlock the hints and the answer.