Last night's lunar eclipse was a total washout for me. We were driving down the NJ Turnpike as it began, with lots of low clouds on the eastern horizon. As it got darker, I could see Venus fairly high in the southwest. But that was it. We pulled over at a rest stop for a look from the parking lot. Nothing. As we arrived back home after the end of the eclipse - at about 8:20 p.m. - there was the moon, high in the east, too late, and blurred by thin clouds. Too bad.

Here's to better luck in August, when the full moon will set in full eclipse. We get to see the beginning of the event this time - assuming clear skies. Next chance after that is in February 2008.

Fortunately, the eclipse was witnessed by lots of people in other, more fortunate locations. Here are a few images from them.

An animation of images from the start of the eclipse from Britain.

Stills from the end of the eclipse, from Alabama.

And a magnificent gallery of images from all over, including the one posted above, from Ulrich Beinart, in Germany.

Here's CNN's account.