Sydney, Australia has been treated to a full lunar eclipse as the Moon passed through the Earth's shadow. (Sky News)High winds and cloudy skies around New Zealand meant patchy viewing in some areas for the only total lunar eclipse visible from New Zealand for seven years. A lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes through the Earth's shadow while the moon, sun and Earth are directly aligned.The Earth's shadow blocks the light that normally reflects off the moon, and the moon visibly dims, as light is bent by the Earth's atmosphere into the shadow. If there is enough dust in the Earth's atmosphere, the surface will appear blood red. The last total lunar eclipse, sometimes called a blood moon eclipse, seen in New Zealand was in July 2000.
In Auckland, high winds chased clouds across the sky, but allowed enough gaps for viewers to see regular glimpses of the eclipse, the New Zealand Herald website said. Last night's event is the second of two total lunar eclipses to happen this year, but will be the only one visible in New Zealand.The next total lunar eclipse in which all stages will be visible from New Zealand is not due until 2014. (Yahoo Xtra News)