Photocredit:Google
On Sept. 7–8, skywatchers will be treated to a total lunar eclipse, when Earth’s shadow moves across the moon, turning it into a glowing red “blood moon.”
A total lunar eclipse happens when Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow over the lunar surface. As sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere, the shorter wavelengths scatter, leaving behind longer red wavelengths that paint the moon in shades of crimson.
This eclipse will be visible in full across large parts of Asia, western Australia, and eastern Europe, while regions such as Spain and Norway will only catch a partial view. Unlike a solar eclipse, you don’t need protective eyewear to watch a lunar eclipse—you can enjoy it safely with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope. For those outside the viewing zone, several free livestreams will broadcast the event.
The spectacle begins with the penumbral phase at 11:28 a.m. EDT (1528 GMT) on Sept. 7, when Earth’s faint outer shadow starts dimming the moon. The effect will be subtle at first, noticeable as a soft shading on the lunar disk. By 12:27 p.m. EDT (1627 GMT), the moon will slip into Earth’s darker, central shadow—the umbra. This phase produces a sharp, dramatic darkening as Earth’s shadow sweeps across the surface.
As the eclipse progresses, much of the moon will take on a rusty hue. Full totality begins at 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT) when the moon is entirely within the umbra. For about 82 minutes, the moon will glow in brilliant shades of red and orange, with the exact color depending on Earth’s atmospheric conditions, including cloud cover and dust levels. The deepest moment of the eclipse occurs at 2:11 p.m. EDT (1811 GMT). Observers may notice some parts of the moon appear brighter than others depending on their position within the shadow.
The total phase ends at 2:52 p.m. EDT (1852 GMT), when a crescent of bright light reappears as the moon begins to leave the umbra. The partial phase lasts just over an hour before the penumbral shadow fades away, with the eclipse wrapping up at 4:55 p.m. EDT (2055 GMT).
Later in the month, on Sept. 21, a partial solar eclipse will follow, visible from southern Australia, several Pacific islands, and Antarctica.
Kindly Share This!!!
0 Comments