Full lunar eclipse: Few selfies, but many 'blood moon' photos hit Web

Full lunar eclipse: Few selfies, but many ‘blood moon’ photos hit Web

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A combination of 10 pictures shows the moon in different stages of a total lunar eclipse seen from the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife. (Desiree Martin / AFP/Getty Images)

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The moon takes on a red hue during the total lunar eclipse as seen from the Griffith Observatory. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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John O’ Bryan, a member of the L.A. Astronomical Society, sets up his telescope as people gather at the Griffith Observatory for the lunar eclipse viewing event. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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The view from the Chabot Space and Science Center observatory in Oakland. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

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A total eclipse of the moon as seen from Koreatown near downtown Los Angeles. (Joe Klamar / AFP/Getty Images)

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The moon is seen from Burbank as it nears a total lunar eclipse. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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The moon glows red during a total lunar eclipse as seen from the Milwaukee area. (Mike De Sisti / Associated Press)

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The Earth’s shadow renders the moon in a crimson hue during a total lunar eclipse. The steeple of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Ashippun, Wis., is illuminated. (John Hart / Associated Press)

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A tiny sliver of bright moon was seen during the last phase of the total lunar eclipse from the Griffith Observatory. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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A capacity crowd gathered at the Griffith Observatory to view the lunar eclipse. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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The moon glows in the sky as people wait at the Griffith Observatory for the lunar eclipse. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

By Alicia Banks

April 15, 2014 8:41 AM PT

They came with iPhones, iPads, digital cameras and even some film cameras -- ready to capture the “blood moon,” the first full lunar eclipse of 2014.

Hundreds converged on Griffith Observatory, which has a prime view.

Here are some photos of the eclipse posted to various social media from the observatory on Tuesday morning:

On Monday night, there were also photos as people prepared to watch:

View the story “Full lunar eclipse: ‘Blood moon’ fills social media” on Storify

Around 11 p.m., the “bite” began to spread across the moon as the Earth blocked direct light from the sun, casting a shadow on the moon. The dark red hue came from the light of sunsets and sunrises over the rest of the Earth.

A hush fell over the balconies and grassy lawn as the eclipse began and onlookers jockeyed for prime viewing spots. Some came hours before the lunar event.

Among the throngs of skywatchers was Johanna Huerta, who ushered in her 30th birthday early Tuesday with the “blood moon.”

“It worked out that I got the ‘blood moon,’” she said. “It will be my first time seeing it.”

She brought her brother, 17-year-old Angel, and family friend Flavia Ibarra, 23, to celebrate her birthday and the eclipse.

“I dragged them with me,” Huerta said. “I’m the dorky one.”