& # 39; Blood Moon & # 39; dazzles skygazers in the longest eclipse of the century

Posted at 8:26, 28 July 2018

Updated 08:36, 28 July 2018 [19659004] & # 39; MOON BLOOD & # 39; People watch the total lunar eclipse in the Olympic Park in Munich, southern Germany on July 27, 2018. The longest blood moon eclipse began on July 27, coinciding with the most Close to Mars in 15 years to treat globe skygazers to an exciting celestial show. Photo of Christof Stache / AFP ” data-parentid=””/>

& # 39; BLOOD MOON & # 39 ;. People watch the total lunar eclipse in the Olympic Park in Munich, southern Germany on July 27, 2018. The longest blood moon eclipse began on July 27, coinciding with the most Close to Mars in 15 years to treat globe skygazers to an exciting celestial show. Photo: Christof Stache / AFP

PARIS, France – The longest "blood moon" eclipse of this century was in progress on Friday, July 27 (Saturday, July 28, in the Philippine era) coinciding with the first one. Nearest approach to Mars in 15 years to treat The companion of the Earth has sailed slowly through the heavens, crowds gathered around the world to see the rare phenomenon.

Next to Lake Magadi, 100 kilometers (60 miles) Southwest of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, young members of the Maasai community watched the eclipse through a high-powered telescope provided by a local couple .

"Until today I thought that Mars, Jupiter and the other planets were in the imagination of scientists," Purity Sailepo, 16, told Agence France -Press (AFP).

"But now I've seen it I can believe it and I want to be an astronomer to tell others."

Eclipse, spectators do not need any equipment eye protection observe the display rare.

For about half of the world, the moon will be partially or totally in the shadow of the Earth from 17:14 to 23:28 GMT (from 1:14 to 7:28 Filipino time) – 6 hours and 14 minutes in all.

The complete eclipse period – known as the "totality", when the moon appeared the darkest, lasted from 1930 to 9:13 pm GMT (3:30 to 5:13 Filipino time) [19659006] in the night sky, easily visible to the naked eye.

Southern Hemisphere amateur astronomers are in the best position to observe this rare spectacle, especially in southern Africa, Australia, South Asia and Madagascar. in Europe and South America.

More than 2,000 people, including many children armed with twins, gathered in the Tunisian capital of Tunis

"I hope this eclipse will bring us happiness and peace," said Karima, 46 years. his eyes from the sky.

However, bad weather thwarted cosmic exposure in many parts of the world.

Heavy rains of monsoon and heavy clouds hid the moon over much of India and its neighbors, which should have been a privileged view

Similarly, enthusiastic observers Were gathered on the cliffs and beaches of the English county of Dorset. in the dark because of a covered sky.

"It's disappointing," said 67-year-old AFP Tish Adams. "I took some pictures but there was only a trail of roses in the sky."

Celestial Bodies Align

Mars appeared unusually large and brilliant, barely 57.7 million kilometers (35.9 million miles) from Earth in its elliptical orbit around the sun.

"We have a conjunction of rare and interesting phenomena," said Pascal Descamps, astronomer at the Observatoire de Paris. hue on the moon with Mars the "Red Planet" next door, very bright and with a slight orange hue itself.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth takes a position in a straight line between the moon and the sun. The moon moves to a similar position every month, but the tilt of its orbit means that it normally goes above or below the Earth's shadow – so most month, we have a full moon without eclipse.

When the Celestial 3 However, the atmosphere of the Earth diffuses blue light from the sun while refracting or bending the red light on the moon, usually giving it a pink blush.

This is what gives the phenomenon the name of "blood moon". Mark Bailey of the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland said the color can vary widely.

It depends in part on the transparency or transparency of the parts of the atmosphere that allow sunlight to reach the moon.

"During a very dark eclipse the moon can be almost invisible."

The long duration of this eclipse is partly due to the fact that the moon will make a pass near the center of the Earth's shadow – the darkest, most central part of the shadow [19659006] & # 39; Eerie and beautiful & # 39;

The moon will also be at the farthest point from Earth's orbit, making its movement across the slower sky our perspective, so spend more time in the dark.

NA SA, meanwhile, denounced social media hoaxes claiming that Mars would appear as large as the Moon during the eclipse.

"If this were true, we would be in big trouble considering the gravitational effects on Earth, Mars, and our moon!" The NASA website said:

Mars will likely appear as a very bright star.

"In the midst of a lunar eclipse, one may have the impression that a red planet has made its home near the Earth. And beautiful," said Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society in London. – Rappler.com