The longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century

The longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century made our satellite blush on Friday, dazzling audiences around the world, while the planet Mars, almost as close to Earth as possible, was full of brilliance. [19659002ForalunareclipsetooccurtheremustbeanalmostperfectalignmentoftheSuntheEarthandtheMoonOurplanetlyingbetweenourstarandtheMoonthenprojectsitsshadowonitsnaturalsatellite

Deprived of the rays of the Sun, the Moon has darkened and taken a brick tint because the earth's atmosphere deviates the rays reds of sunlight into the shadow cone. The Moon could then send them back.

The eclipse, which corresponds to the moment when the Moon plunges into the shadow of the Earth, was visible, partially or totally, in one half of the world (notably the eastern hemisphere) . It has been observed, depending on weather conditions, from Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia.

The complete phenomenon (half-light included, imperceptible to the naked eye) began at 17 14 GMT and finished at 2328 GMT

The real show started at 1824 GMT. The most interesting moment of the eclipse, when the moon was completely in the shadow cone projected by the Earth, was at 1930 GMT and ended at 2113 GMT.

This phase "totality" lasted 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes), the longest lunar eclipse of the twenty-first century.

"I Want to Become an Astronomer"

"C'est si si interesting to see how the moon is red, as if it were covered with blood " exclaimed Marion Rotich, mother of the family observing the phenomenon with her two daughters in Naivasha, in the south of Kenya.

Near Lake Magadi, an isolated region far from the light pollution of cities 100 km southwest of Nairobi, a couple, Susan Murabana and Daniel Chu Owen, had set up their telescope so that the inhabitants of the neighborhood could admire the eclipse

"We had already done that to the occasion of the solar eclipse in 2016 " said Susan Murabana. Some 300 members of the local community, mostly Masai, had come to use their telescopes. "It's good to give such an opportunity to people like these" .

"Until today, I thought that Mars, Jupiter and the other planets found in the imagination of scientists " told AFP one of the young observers, Purity Sailepo, 16 years old. "But now that I have seen this, I can believe it and I want to become an astronomer to tell others" .

"Happiness and tranquility"

At the same time in Tunis, more of 2,000 people gathered at the Capital City of Science to admire the eclipse.

Amazed by the color change of the satellite, men, women and especially children with binoculars waited their turn to watch the moon through the telescopes. Others filmed, portable by hand.

"I hope this eclipse will bring us happiness and tranquility" hoped Karima, 46 years, binoculars in hand.

In Berlin, people gathered on the Drachenberg, a hill that rises to a hundred meters west of Berlin. "For the people who live today, it's a unique event" commented on Sven Melchert, the director of Heppenheim's Friends of the Stars Association in western Germany , quoted by the DPA News Agency.

Deception and Clouds

Monsoon rains from thick clouds hid the moon in much of India and its neighbors, who should have had a view

Even disappointment in a large part of Europe where thick clouds have disturbed the lunar spectacle.

North of London, on the terrace of Alexandra Palace, hundreds of people were frustrated by the clouds obscuring all sight of the sky. With a very British humor, they consoled themselves by singing "Total eclipse of the heart" a global hit of local singer Bonnie Tyler, released in 1983.

In a small seaside resort in Dorset County In the south-west of England, observers were found on the beaches and cliffs, hoping for a clearing of the sky, without success. "It's disappointing" admitted Tish Adams, 67 years old. "I took some pictures but there was nothing but a little pink trail in the sky. It would have been so good to see her "

The Red Moon

Those who gathered in Rio de Janeiro were luckier, grabbing the red moon in the clear night sky with their camera Photo. "I found it very pretty and I liked Mars more than I could see right next to the moon" Talita Oliveira, 34, was delighted.

Another star of the night was indeed Mars, which is only 57.6 million kilometers from the Earth. To the naked eye, we can see a bright spot while with a telescope or a telescope, it is possible to observe it in detail.

This was the second total lunar eclipse of 2018, the first having taken place on January 31.

La-Croix.com (with AFP)