Lunar eclipse: The ISS can also be seen – with Alexander Gerst on board

Just in time for the apogee of the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century, the International Space Station (ISS) will fly over Germany on Friday. She will show up at 22:30 in the west, will move east and shine more than any other star. The show lasts six minutes

Around the same time, the lunar eclipse reaches its peak. About half-past eight the moon enters the shadow of the earth, for the earth is then between the moon and the sun. Therefore, the shadow of the earth wanders on the moon: first, it covers the edge, later the whole moon is in the shade – so there is a total lunar eclipse. The maximum eclipse is reached around 22:22

Bloodmoon and Mars

During the night, the moon appears slightly dark red, because all the sunlight is not protected from the earth. Long wave light bends around the earth, it illuminates the moon of a dark red. Astronomers speak of a moon of blood. Shortly after 11 pm, the show is over.

A little south of the darkened full moon of July 27, Mars will shine in a reddish light and face the sun. Astronomers talk about opposition. It turns into a striking luminous star visible all night long.

On board the ISS is also the German astronaut Alexander Gerst, known as "Alex Astro". The ISS currently covers approximately 27,500 kilometers per hour and orbits the Earth every 90 minutes. That's why she dives into the sky again and again. For example, this photo of a reflective telescope shows how the ISS pbades the sun

Gerst had begun to the ISS early June. He will take command in October as the first German, he should return to Earth in December. During his journey through space, he never stops looking for contact with the earth. For example, on Thursday, he went to Künzelsau in Baden-Württemberg, where he was born.