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image source, NASA
During a total lunar eclipse, sunlight is filtered by the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the Moon to turn an orange hue.
You won’t need binoculars or telescopes this weekend to observe a spectacular astronomical phenomenon.
Just by looking up at the sky between the night of Sunday 15 and the early hours of Monday 16 May, you will be able to observe -from all South and Central America, much of North America, southern and western Europe, southern and western Asia, Africa, in the oceans the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and from the Antarctica– a total lunar eclipse.
Depending on your time zone, you will see the Moon take on a reddish hue during the eclipse, leading to it being known as a “Blood Moon”.
This Blood Moon will also be special, as it occurs when the satellite is almost at its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger than usual.
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A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth stands between the Moon and the Sun casting a shadow on the Moon. The three heavenly bodies must be perfectly aligned for that to happen.
Although the Earth blocks direct sunlight, preventing the Sun from illuminating the Moon’s surface, some rays reach the Moon’s surface indirectly.
This sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, which filters out most of the blue light; That is why, during this phenomenon, the Moon is seen in a reddish hue and for this reason it is sometimes called “Blood Moon”.
And since the diameter of our planet is four times the diameter of the Moon, its shadow is also much wider, so the totality of a lunar eclipse can last up to 104 minutes.
Although the times depend on where you observe the phenomenon from, the GMT times can serve as a guide.
May 15-16 -depending on your time zone- is special: it’s a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse.
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2Total number of total lunar eclipses in 2022
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reddish toneIt is the one acquired by the Moon when some rays of the Sun filter through the Earth’s atmosphere.
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Where?Visible in the Americas and in some parts of Europe and Africa.
Source: BBC, timeanddate.com
According to the page TimeandDate.com, the partial eclipse phase will begin on May 16 at 02:28 GMTthe reddish moment of greatest intensity will take place at 04:11 GMT and the event will end at 05:55 GMT.
Since it is a lunar eclipse, observing it directly does not pose a risk to the eyes.
“It’s basically about looking at the full moon. You don’t need any instrument, at first glance it’s already something beautiful. If someone wants, they can also use binoculars, spotting scopes or glasses,” Roberto Costa, professor at the Department of Astronomy, tells the BBC. from the University of São Paulo (USP).
Of course, like the vast majority of astronomical phenomena, the sky has to be clearor so we can enjoy it.
image source, Getty Images
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