3 reasons not to miss the lunar eclipse of Friday, July 27

The stars will be aligned Friday, July 27 in the evening, and this is not astrological forecasts but astronomical! Here are three good reasons to take a look – or more – at this magnificent celestial spectacle. But before that, what is a lunar eclipse?

This phenomenon can take place when the Sun, the Earth and the Moon are perfectly aligned, in that order. This organization gives … a full moon, since our satellite then perfectly faces our star, which illuminates it entirely. But sometimes, the Moon pbades in the shadow of our planet: it is a lunar eclipse. During this period, our satellite darkens, and if it enters entirely in the terrestrial shade, it will not disappear but take a purple hue. This color is caused by rays of the sun that the earth's atmosphere diverts and filters.

But overall, this phenomenon happens relatively regularly: why so raise the eyes precisely this July 27?

Because that it will be the longest and most intense lunar eclipse of this century

It is a truly exceptional configuration that awaits you, Friday, July 27th: the eclipse will last almost … 6 hours! It is the longest of all the 21st century, according to the calculations of Ephemerides. The Moon will pbad entirely and in the center of the shadow of the Earth.

How are these 6 hours going? At 19:14, the moon will enter the "penumbra" zone, where our planet obscures part of the sun's rays. Then she will begin to pbad in the shadow of the Earth at 8:24 pm. You will not be able to see this first phase, during which the Moon simply loses its brilliance … since it will not be raised yet for the French. In Clermont-Ferrand, it should emerge on the horizon around 9:19 pm, southeast. This is where the show really begins.

At 9:30 pm, the moon should have entered the shadows of the Earth completely: no more solar radiation reaches it directly. Only those deviated and filtered by our atmosphere illuminate and color it. This is where our satellite begins to adorn itself with red. And this phase should last more than an hour and a half! A very, very long show …

Because Mars will be in super opposition

What does Mars do in a lunar eclipse? Nothing. Mars is a planet in our solar system, which revolves around the Sun like the Earth, while the Moon is a satellite that revolves around the Earth. The Martian and lunar phenomena of July 27 are not directly related. They only occur at the same time, and so will be visible almost in the same place in the sky.

Every two years and fifty days, Mars is in opposition: it is aligned with our planet and the Sun. This is the moment when Earth and Mars are closest. Except that their respective orbit is not a perfect circle, rather an oval: we are therefore not at the same distance from Mars at each opposition. And if we talk about "super" opposition for this July 27, it's because we will be "super" close! The last time we have been so many dates back to … 2003.

Beware, even though we are very close to Mars, it will not appear much bigger than usual in the sky: but it will be much more bright, and she will appear near the moon, a little below. It will therefore be very easily recognizable by its intense and also reddish luster.

Because all this will be very simple to observe

Celestial phenomena worthy of interest take place quite regularly, more than we think. But the observation conditions are not always good. This July 27, half of the planet will benefit from this phenomenon, and we are part of it. In addition to this, it will take place in the early evening: no need to put an alarm clock in the middle of the night!

This double heavenly event is also accessible to all. No need for a telescope to admire the reddish moon, and even the brilliance of Mars will be easily visible to the naked eye – of course, do not deprive yourself of admiring them with binoculars or a telescope if you have one. opportunity ! And unlike a solar eclipse, there is absolutely no risk in looking at a lunar eclipse "in the whites of the eyes."

All the elements promise a spectacle as fantastic as it is easy to admire … provided the clouds do not spoil everything
If you want to admire the phenomenon while benefiting from advice and explanations, the French Association of Astronomy will be present on more than 70 sites in France to welcome you, especially in Auvergne. 19659011] [ad_2]
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