The longest total lunar eclipse of the century

Two spectacular celestial events can be admired in one night at the end of July: A very long lunar eclipse – Mars as big as it is rare

Astronomical Dream Midsummer Night: Illuminine two special constellations the night sky on July 27 in Germany – a warm Friday night in the middle of summer. The Moon dives into the shadow of the Earth, it is the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century.

Mars is as close to Earth as it is rare. The show begins with the appearance of darkness in the late evening, according to the Sternfreunde Association in Heppenheim in southern Hesse. "The lunar eclipse ends just after midnight, but Mars is visible all night long." Many observatories, planetariums, astronomical associations and research institutes invite you to watch the show

The lunar eclipse lasts as long

Lunar eclipse: The image shows from top to bottom left the different phases of the total lunar eclipse (Source: Sven Hoppe / dpa) ]

Die According to Magdalena Bertelmann of the German Meteorological Service of Offenbach, the opportunities to see the spectacle of the sky are not bad, claiming that the next night the night will be clear and that it will not be bad. there will be only a few clouds in the sky. "But it is still too early to make a prediction"

Only when the lunar orbit crosses the orbit at the full moon, the moon darkens, say astronomers, l & # 39; Total lunar eclipse is particularly long this time: the moon is completely submerged in the shadow of the Earth for one hour and 44 minutes This lunar eclipse will only take place two minutes before June 9, 2123.

Mars at minimum spacing

Mars, known as the Red Planet, is farther away from the Sun than the Earth, unlike the Earth. He did not get on his train, but nearly two years to go around the sun. The distance from Mars to the Sun varies considerably: at its furthest point, it is about 250 million kilometers, on the other side of the sun more than 200 million kilometers

only when Mars is near of the Sun and exceeds it on the inner orbit. He is particularly bright in the sky and relatively tall. On average, however, this particular constellation occurs only every 15 years, most recently in 2003. On July 27, Mars is only about 58 million kilometers from Earth – the minimum distance, as the astronomer says Carolin Liefke of the House of Astronomy in Heidelberg. 19659005] When will the moon and Mars be seen?

In Germany, the moon will be on 27. July in Munich at 20:48, in Hamburg at 21:16 – the lunar eclipse has already begun. "It's noticeably redder and darker," says Liefke. "It is clear that he looks different from the usual." Provided there is no dense clouds moving in front of the view.

Mars follows an hour later, but is not as big as the moon and shines very brightly from a reddish light. At the height of the lunar eclipse at 22:22, the Moon and Mars are still low over the horizon. At the end of the dark at 23:14, the two celestial bodies are much higher, according to astronomers. It is really dark and both are reddish. The show continues until midnight and people can watch the moon leave the Earth's shadow.

Not only the Moon and Mars are clearly visible in the sky, but Jupiter and Saturn, as Liefke says. As soon as it's dark, they shine in the evening sky. "But Mars is the star."