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Thanks, Legate of Amon Lanc, for the quotes.

But Tilion was wayward and uncertain in speed, and held not to his appointed path; and he sought to come near to Arien, being drawn by her splendour, though the flame of Anar scorched him, and the island of the Moon was darkened.

and

But Morgoth hated the new lights, and was for a while confounded by this unlooked-for stroke of the Valar. Then he assailed Tilion, sending spirits of shadow against him, and there was strife in Ilmen beneath the paths of the stars; but Tilion was victorious.

I'd considered this, but 'scorching' to me would (yes, this is nuts and picayune) produces a different pattern. The moon, as we currently see it (no pictures available from the Third Age), looks blotchy - stained, or blood-splattered - and not scorched, which could result in a more uniform darkening. If blood, who's? If not blood, what? And doesn't anyone have a towel and bucket of soapy water? And weren't these chariots of the gods hallowed?