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On the night of January 20, there will be a total eclipse of the Moon, which will "dye" our natural red satellite, giving rise to the so-called "super moon of blood."
It is the combination of three astronomical events simultaneously: a total lunar eclipse, a & # 39; blood moon & # 39; and a & quot; super moon & quot ;. This rare phenomenon occurs when our planet lies between the Sun and the Moon, and the satellite is located in the darkest darker area of Earth.
According to Walter Freeman, a physicist at the University of Syracuse (USA), this phenomenon will last approximately three hours. "First of all, a normal full moon will be observed around 22:35 (Eastern time). At this point, the Earth's shadow will begin to pass in front of the Moon, preventing almost all the sunlight from reaching it, viewers will see that the moon appears to be being progressively & swallowed & # 39; from the bottom left. This process will end at 11:40 p.m., when the shadow of the Earth covers the entire lunar surface. This is the beginning of the total eclipse. "Then the Moon will be gradually illuminated again by the Sun, and at 01:45 on January 21 it will be fully visible again.
How often does this type of eclipse occur?
Freeman says that, on average, there is "little" less than one total lunar eclipse per year. "A lunar eclipse this can only happen during a full moon, when the satellite is on the opposite side of the Earth … But the orbit of the Moon is slightly inclined compared to that of Earth, so when the moon is full, the shadow of our planet passes a little above and below, we have a lunar eclipse every month, "he added.
What is the difference between a total lunar eclipse and a & # 39; moon of blood?
During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon does not will be "completely invisible". "A little sunlight is refracted by Earth's atmosphere and reaches the Moon, bending the edges of the Earth, this small amount of red light illuminates the Moon enough to see, but instead of being bright and white, It will be very dark and red, more or less 10,000 times more tenuous than usual, for what is called a "blood moon", explained the physicist at the University of Syracuse.
"As the Moon does not shine by itself but only reflects sunlight, any lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon," he continued.
What measures should be taken to observe the total lunar eclipse?
According to Freeman, do not take precautions when observing a lunar eclipse, since the Moon is not bright enough to negatively affect the eyes, as in the case of a solar eclipse. "A blood moon is one of the few opportunities we have to see the moon and the stars in the sky at the same time, since the moon is usually very bright."
When is the next total lunar eclipse?
This astronomical event will occur on May 26, 2021. But Walter Freeman said that in the US the next total lunar eclipse can be observed on November 8, 2022.
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