During a lunar eclipse, a group of students observes the Moon gradually changing color as it passes through the Earth's shadow. One student thinks that this color change is due to the Moon being illuminated by other stars. Which explanation best describes why the Moon appears red during a lunar eclipse?

When the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, it no longer receives direct sunlight, but some light still reaches it by bending around the Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere scatters short‑wavelength blue light more than the longer‑wavelength red light, so only a reddish tint passes through. That reddish light then falls on the Moon’s surface, making it look red or orange. This is the same effect that turns the sky red at sunset. So the Moon appears red because sunlight is filtered through Earth’s atmosphere, not because of stars.