Eclipsed Moon in Infrared . ... Credit Copyright: DCATT Team, MSX Project Explanation: In September of 1996, the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite had a spectacular view of a total lunar eclipse from Earth orbit . SPIRIT III, an on board infrared telescope, was used to repeatedly image the moon during the eclipse . ... So, the bright spots correspond to the warm areas on the lunar surface , and dark areas are cooler. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . ...