It will be the longest total lunar eclipse of the century

MADRID

A ] the total lunar eclipse from almost four hours from beginning to end, the longest planned throughout the 21st century will take place on July 27, coinciding with the full moon

The total phase will last 1 hour and 43 minutes, during which time the Earth's natural satellite will acquire a spectacular red or reddish color, popularly referred to as 'Blood Moon & # 39; ; . ] Much of the eastern hemisphere of the Earth will see some or all of the eclipse.

The entire eclipse will be visible from Africa, the Middle East and Central Asian countries. The eclipse will be visible from the east of South America when it ends, and from Australia when it begins.

Unlike solar eclipses, no special equipment is needed to observe lunar eclipses. These latest events, which occur when the moon passes in the shadow of the Earth, can be seen safely at the naked eye, telescopes or binoculars.

The moon turns bright red or reddish brown during eclipses,

This is because part of the sunlight that flows through the Earth's atmosphere curls up. around the edge of our planet and falls to the surface of the Moon. The Earth's air also diffuses more light of shorter wavelength (in colors such as green or blue); what remains is the longest wavelength, the most red end of the spectrum.

The total time of eclipse will be 20.21 GMT from 27 July according to EarthSky.org. The total eclipse will last from 19:30 to 21:13 GMT

There will also be some time before and after the moon is in the lightest part of the Earth's shadow, which call the penumbra. By including this twilight time, the eclipse will last 3 hours and 55 minutes.

What controls the duration of the lunar eclipse, that is the position of the moon when it crosses the moon. Shadow of the Earth, "he told Space. com Noah Petro, NASA Goddard Center The darkest part of the Earth's shadow is called umbra. You can imagine the umbra as a cone extending from the Earth in the opposite direction of the sun, Petro explains.

The moon can cross the cone, or pass in the middle, [el medio] has a longer eclipse, "he said. "This time, the moon passes closer to the center of this cone, and so the eclipse is a little longer than the eclipse we had in January."

Also, the moon will be at a point farther from Earth along its orbit, EarthSky noted.

This means that the moon will appear a little smaller in the sky and that it will take a little longer to cross the Earth's shadow

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