Simulation of the view of the umbra during a total lunar eclipse. This shows a plane perpendicular to the axis of the umbra, extending outward about 1.2 umbral radii, thus a larger area than the moon typically encompasses during a total lunar eclipse.

The simulation uses ray-tracing of light rays originating at the sun, passing near or through the earth's atmosphere, then being refracted or absorbed if they pass on toward the moon. Intensities are displayed logarithmically; the correct color balance is preserved in this 3 color simulation.

In this view, opaque volcanic aerosols up to a 30km altitude are assummed to be occurring along about a 90 degree arc of the earth's terminator.

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