[ad_1]
Friday night, the sky will offer us a total lunar eclipse. How and where to see it?
During the lunar eclipse of Friday, July 27, several celestial objects will be observable if the weather is mild. Among them, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus. The real star of the event is the Moon, which will take on a red hue. A rare and particularly spectacular phenomenon.
The longest eclipse of the century will thus offer a unique spectacle of its kind, but how and where to observe it?
Where to observe the eclipse?
Globally, the best place to see it will be on the island of Reunion. The island west of the Indian Ocean is particularly well placed in relation to the axis of the Moon. East Africa, the Middle East, India and the western tip of China will also be excellent points of observation. The phenomenon will not be visible in North America, Central America and the Pacific
In Belgium, we can appreciate the eclipse at the rising of the Moon. Andy Strappazzon, astrophotographer tells us more about how to observe the Moon during the eclipse. "In Belgium, the most important thing is to find a terrain where the horizon is clear. The ideal is a hillock or the roof of a building. So, even without a telescope, you'll see something, "he says. "When the Moon gets up, it will already be eclipsed." Although far from the axis of the Moon, Belgium will enjoy 45 minutes of total eclipse, from 21:30 to 22:15. After this time, we can observe a crescent moon until 00:30 which will sound the end of the event.
The eclipse will not make the moon invisible, it will first become gray then more and more dark when entering the shadow of the Earth. It will then change color to turn red
Why a Red Moon?
As the word "eclipse" might suggest, Friday's phenomenon will not make the moon invisible. It will first become gray and then darker and darker by entering the shadow of the Earth. It will then change color to red. Why ? Because at its rising, the Moon will send back rays of the Sun. These are the rays of yellow and red colors that will reach our eye, the other components of the light (yellow, green, blue, etc.) being absorbed by the particles of the atmosphere. That will give that hue to the only satellite of the Earth.
To go further
To understand the phenomenon in detail, astroclubs organize throughout Belgium observations of the eclipse with explanations. A good introduction to astronomy for the most curious and a boon to be able to contemplate the show in the best conditions.
[ad_2]
Source link