A rare selenelion lunar eclipse was visible from campus in the predawn hours of Mar. 4. The phenomenon occurs when the sun rises on one horizon just as the still-eclipsed moon sets on the opposite horizon.
The full moon was visible from the Yard throughout the night, before the partial phase of the eclipse began at approximately 4:50 a.m.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes into Earth’s shadow. Thus, as the eclipse progressed, the moon gradually darkened.
Crowds of people and photographers gathered in the morning hoping to spot the eclipse from Weeks Bridge.
People also gathered on the roof of the Science Center at an eclipse viewing event sponsored by the Astronomy Society. The Student Astronomers at Harvard-Radcliffe let students look at the sunrise through the solar telescope. Although the sunrise drowned out most of the total phase of the eclipse, onlookers nonetheless experienced a beautiful sunrise.
Harvard Square was bathed in an early-morning glow just moments after the eclipse ended.
Harvards campus was silent before the breakfast rush. Visible from the roof of the Science Center, the sun rises to shine on Annenberg at 6:20 a.m.