The view of the "blood moon" of Rudolstädter Sternwarte – Saalfeld

Rudolstadt. As the historian Hartmut Richter retired astronomy professor and member of the astronomy team of the Rudolstadt Observatory: "In general , we can say that there are always shadows thrown by celestial bodies. In 2013, for example, Venus has moved to the sun and is also an eclipse. "Even if you do not notice much without a telescope." Fundamentally, lunar and solar eclipses are the most famous of their kind.

The observatory is open from 9 pm

So also this next Friday, when the next lunar eclipse is due.That day, the astronomers of the "Johannes Kepler" observatory at Rudolstadt again invite to the joint visit of the sky show in the Observatory When the total phase of the lunar eclipse begins at 9 pm, the doors of the observatory are open to interested parties.

Astronomers also like to provide information on how the show Friday night will happen.In the evening hours, the earth moves between the sun and the moon, explains Richter .As a result, the earth cast a shadow on the satellite. astronomy professor can also explain in. why the moon does not disappear simply in this phase, but becomes blood red.

"The residual light is refracted by the earth's atmosphere, especially the particularly long red light", says Richter . The red parts of the sunlight would break in the shadows, then turn the moon red. The phase of the so-called "blood moon" is reached from 21:30, added Richter . Then the companion of the earth penetrates completely into the shadow of the earth's core.

In principle, the next lunar eclipse could also be observed well from home, says Richter : "Decisive is the correct direction.The moon rises on Friday in the southeast then moves flat on the horizon. "

The sky is showing but offers other objects of observation. Astronomers at the Rudolstadt Observatory, for example, want to use the dim light of the moon to direct telescopes to other celestial bodies. These include Jupiter with his moons, Mars and Saturn. "If you really want to see the rings of Saturn that night, we invite you to join us," Richter added.

Nobody must hurry Friday to get a glimpse of the "blood moon". A total of 103 minutes of lunar eclipse last Friday. A particularly long time added Richter . This is mainly due to the current long distance from the moon to the earth. "The average distance from the moon to the earth is 384,000 kilometers, on Friday there are more than 400,000 kilometers, and in the distance the moon crosses the Earth's shadow much longer," ] Richter .

The lunar eclipse ends around 1 am "Those who are interested in the event, we are welcome," adds Richter to the moment, the show will surely be broadcast somewhere on the Internet, but instead of looking at the screen with a magnifying glbad, visitors to Friday's observatory will have the opportunity to look up, concludes L & R. Astronomer.

The observatory "Johannes Kepler" at Rudolstadt is accessible via Richard-Wagner-Strbade in the direction of Mörla to the branch of 39 An der Sternwarte at Rudolstadt