During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon's surface. As the Moon enters the Earth's shadow, it gradually darkens and takes on a reddish hue. This phenomenon is often referred to as a "blood moon" due to the reddish color.
When the Moon is fully within the Earth's shadow, it is in a state of total eclipse. At this point, the Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching the Moon, and the only light that reaches the Moon is refracted by the Earth's atmosphere. This refracted light passes through the Earth's atmosphere and is bent towards the Moon, causing the Moon to appear red.
The reason we cannot see the sunset during a total lunar eclipse is that the Earth's atmosphere acts as a lens, bending the sunlight and directing it toward the Moon. This atmospheric bending is the same phenomenon responsible for the reddish colors seen during sunrise and sunset on Earth.
As a result, the light from the Sun that is refracted by the Earth's atmosphere is primarily responsible for illuminating the Moon during a total lunar eclipse. The direct sunlight that would typically create a sunset or sunrise on Earth does not reach the Moon during this time, as the Earth blocks it.
Therefore, during a total lunar eclipse, the Moon is bathed in the refracted and reddened light from the Earth's atmosphere, creating a unique and captivating celestial event.