The spectacle of the "red moon" delight young Kenyans

"Mars, Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury: that's what I would really like to see," says Daniel Chu Owen, trying to spot the position of the planets through an application on his mobile phone. [19659003] With his wife Susan Murabana, 39 years old like him, they installed their powerful telescope on the shores of Lake Magadi, Kenya, 100 kilometers southwest of the capital Nairobi, on Friday to allow the neighborhood to observe

East Africa, as well as the Middle East and part of Europe, was one of the regions to offer the most spectacular views of the lunar eclipse – the Longer 21st Century.

"We have already done this on the occasion of the solar eclipse in 2016," says 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 who would otherwise not have been able to use such a camera," she adds, as Owen sets the mechanical telescope in the right position.

The couple, who founded the Traveling Telescope Africa association, chose Lake Magadi because of its isolation, far from urban light pollution.

– "To become an astronomer –

Murabana points the planets with a laser pen while a boy in shorts and black sweater climbs on a small stepladder to be the first to look in the telescope

"I saw the moons of Jupiter, and stars. Yes, I loved it, "smiled Memusi, age 7.

Around him, young people – some of whom are dressed in the traditional Masai dress – laugh and show the blushing moon, gradually obscured by the shadow of the Earth.

"This is the first time I see a red moon, it's very exciting," Murabana said, loudspeaker, to the crowd gathered for the show.

"The moon plunges into the shadow of the Earth, Owen explains for his part, as a shooting star crosses the sky

"Until today, I thought that Mars, Jupiter and the other planets were in the scientists' imagination, "one of the young observers, Purity Sailepo, 16, told AFP.

" But now that I've seen this, I can believe it and I want to become an astronomer to tell others ", adds the teenager.

All around her, people of all ages line up in front of the telescope, eager to reg arder in the telescope to finally admire the spectacle of the cosmos.

In the clear sky, distant stars and the Milky Way were clearly visible, the light reflected by the Moon temporarily fading.

"Do not you doubt not how much the change is pronounced, "says Mudit Sharma, 40, from Nairobi to observe the eclipse. "You know it's logical but you really have to see it," he adds, as the moon turns into a pale amber silhouette.