lunar eclipse 2018 – when is the July eclipse and what time to see it near you

Who can forget the heavenly spectacle of 2015, when we all gathered to witness the biggest solar eclipse in Europe since 1999?

It was an amazing sight and since then we have also been treated to lunar eclipses

In 2017, the Perseid meteors, a lunar eclipse, the blood moon and the total eclipse of Sun occurred a few days apart

and the good news for astronomers is that there will soon be a total eclipse.

So when is it and where can you see it?

Here's all you need to know

When is the next total eclipse?

There will be a total lunar eclipse on July 2 7.

It is scheduled to be the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century because the moon is at one of its farthest points of the Earth, making it look smaller – this means that a larger part its surface will be obscured in an eclipse.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves from the opposite side of the earth to the sun. It is then in the shadow of the earth

During this type of eclipse, the moon will darken gradually but it will not disappear completely in the dark – it will instead take on a hue coppery or reddish. This is popularly known as a blood moon.

What is a blood moon? Why does the moon become red during a lunar eclipse?

The moon does not create its own light – it shines because its surface reflects sunlight.

During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks sunlight and the surface of the moon takes on a red or orange glow. But why?

This is due to an effect called Rayleigh Scattering. The same phenomenon creates red sunrises and reds and makes the sky blue.

It is caused by the way the sun's rays are sometimes bounced when they travel towards us. Short wavelengths like purple and blue are scattered when they hit the atmosphere, while longer wavelengths such as red and orange run through the sky. Atmosphere and reach the Earth.

The red and orange light is then refracted moon on the other side, giving it that strange color.

So where will this eclipse be visible?

Astronomers say that the eclipse will be visible in most of Europe, Africa, West and Central Asia, the Indian Ocean and the West. Western Australia

In the United Kingdom, we have a good vision of the lunar eclipse

The people of Birmingham can first see the eclipse occur at 9 pm, as the l & # 39; 39, shadow of the Earth moves through the moon.

The eclipse actually begins to occur before – from 6:14 pm – but the moon will be below the horizon and we will only be able to see it later.

The eclipse will reach the maximum or the totality at 9:21 pm and will end at Saturday, July 28 at 12:28 pm

It is a visible eclipse of a duration of 3 hours 28 minutes

Visibility similar to that of the eclipse will be observed in other parts of the United Kingdom. In London, people will be able to see him from 20h39 and Manchester from 21h06

How to get the best picture?

• Stay away from bright lights
• Try to choose a place marked by interesting buildings or trees so that the moon appears in comparison
• If you use your phone, use your finger to focus on the location of the moon
• The moon is moving so for a clear picture, use an application that has a fast shutter speed
• zoom lenses and all the other elements are not really necessary but will help you stay stable and get a better close-up

When is the next total lunar eclipse?

The next total lunar eclipse we can see from the UK will not be before January 19, 2019.