The earth waits for the longest moon of blood

DOUBLE TRAITE This composite image created on January 31 shows the moon during a lunar eclipse in Tokyo. On Friday, the longest blood moon eclipse will coincide with the closest approach to the Earth of Mars in 15 years in a fascinating double astronomical bill. -AFP

According to the Philippine Department of Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa), Filipinos will have to expect clear skies on Saturday at dawn to observe the longest lunar eclipse of the century.

The eclipse will coincide with the astronomers say that the approach of Mars closest to the Earth in 15 years is to offer the skygazers a double astronomical project exciting on July 28, but with a Cloudy skies across the Philippines and a southwestern monsoon, forecasters are not optimistic. "Literally, it's almost like" suntok his buwan "(almost impossible)," Mario Raymundo, head of the astronomical observation and service unit of Pagasa Times, said odds that the country will be able to see the rare celestial phenomenon.

Saturday's blood moon is second this year. The first lunar eclipse, a "blood super moon" was produced on January 31st.

Reddish Hue

Astronomers call a lunar total eclipse a moon of blood because of the reddish hue of the full moon when eclipsed completely.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth takes a position in a straight line between the moon and the sun, erasing the direct sunlight that normally makes our satellite whitish-yellow.

The moon moves to a similar position every month, but the tilt of its orbit means that it normally passes above or below the Earth's shadow. Most months, we have a full moon without eclipse.

When the three celestial bodies are perfectly aligned, the atmosphere of the Earth diffuses the blue light of the sun while refracting or bending the red light on the moon, usually giving it a

The color may vary

This is what gives the phenomenon the name of blood moon, although Mark Bailey of the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland said that the color could vary considerably.

depends in part on the transparency or transparency of the parts of the atmosphere that allow sunlight to reach the moon, Bailey told Agence France-Presse (AFP ): "During a very dark eclipse, the moon can be almost invisible, the darker eclipses can show the moon as dark gray or brown … as rust, brick red, or, if very bright, red or orange copper."

In the Philippines, the lunar eclipse will take place early Saturday The beginning of the eclipse is partly due to the fact that the moon will make a pass near the center of the Earth's shadow [19659003ThemoonwillalsobeatthefurthestpointfromEarth'sorbitmakingitsmovementacrosstheskyslowerfromourpointofviewthusspendingmoretimeinthedark

Mars near the moon

At the same time, Mars will hover near the moon in the night sky, easily visible to the naked eye.

The neighboring planet will appear unusually large and bright, barely 57.7 million kilometers from Earth in its elliptical orbit around the sun.

"We have a Pascal Descamps, an astronomer from the Paris Observatory, told AFP:" We should have a copper-red hue on the moon with Mars the "red planet" just to side, very bright and with a

Best View

Pagasa astronomers have stated that they would install a telescope at the Quezon City Observatory, but they do not have a telescope. were not optimistic. eclipse in all its glory, even with advanced lenses.

"As clouds enter the picture, we lose our chance," Raymundo said.

With clear skies, it is best to see the blood moon in the coastal areas with a clear view of the moon setting in the west.

In Metro Manila, Manila Bay will have one of the best panoramas, he says. the shadow begins to touch the face of the moon, will begin at 1:14 in the morning, but the partial eclipse begins at about 2: 24 pm

'Maximum eclipse'

But the total lunar eclipse will take place at 3:30 in the morning and will culminate at 4:21 in the morning, also called "maximum eclipse", or when the moon is closest to the center of the shadow , according to Raymundo.

"Our best window will be around 3 am at 5 am, when the moon is really reddish, and beyond that, the vision of the moon will already be affected by twilight," he said.

Astronomers predict that the partial lunar eclipse will end around 6:19 am, but this is no longer visible because the moon will go down 5:44 am

The next total lunar eclipse arrives January 21, 2019, according to Pagasa. – Reports of Melvin Gascon and AFP

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