Total Eclipse of the Moon on 27 July 2018

Gwen Vasquez
July 27, 2018

Are you hoping to catch a glimpse of the lunar eclipse or the blood Moon tonight?


"The light from the sun goes through the Earth's atmosphere on its way to the moon, and the Earth's atmosphere turns it red in the same way that when the sun goes down, it goes red", astronomy professor Andrew Fabian, of the University of Cambridge, told Reuters.

Also, reported on all eclipses worldwide from 1900 to 2100. The Penumbral Eclipse begins at 22.44 PM IST on July 27. Mars will appear 10 times brighter than usual, at magnitude -2.8 on that night.

Social media is already flooded with excited Europeans exclaiming at the wondrous sight as the glow get brighter and redder ever night, as only red and yellow light can pass through the Earth's atmosphere.

And there's one more twist: The absolutely closest distance this time around won't come at the precise time of opposition on Friday, when the sun, Earth and Mars are in a flawless line.

Mars will actually be at its closest approach since 2003 on Monday and Tuesday, when it is 35.78 million miles away. A binocular, however, will give a better view of the spectacular celestial event.

Friday's total lunar eclipse will be visible across large parts across Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, and South America. The full eclipse will go for more than 6 hours.

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You will find several videos and space channels live streaming the lunar eclipse.

The moon is expected to turn reddish as against the familiar whitish appearance in the period of totality.

According to NASA scientists: "The exact color that the moon appears depends on the amount of dust and clouds in the atmosphere". The moon will be in ideal alignment with the sun and Earth on Friday, with the moon on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun.

And finally - the Moon is near apogee (the most distant point in its orbit) around the July full moon, Edberg said.

"However, we won't see all of this eclipse, as the Moon will already be deep in the shadow as it rises above the horizon from Ireland", said a spokesperson for the Irish Astronomical Association.

Mercury was now not as visible as it had been, but Venus could still be viewed more clearly than normal. For viewers in India, the eclipse, both partial and the total, will be visible in its entirety from all parts of the country.

"Hence the Moon is fractionally smaller than usual".

The red moon phenomenon, also called a Blood Moon or Luna Rossa, is possible because, while the moon is in total shadow, some light from the sun passes through the Earth's atmosphere and is bent toward the moon.

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