If you missed the “Super Blue Blood Moon” of January 31, 2018, here is a good news for you, the next total lunar eclipse is just one month away and it will be the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century. On 27th July moon will pass through the center of Earth’s shadow making it the first central lunar eclipse since June 15, 2011.
Unlike the solar eclipse, total lunar eclipse is safe to watch through naked eyes or binoculars. The blood moon eclipse lasting for 103 minutes will be visible to the observers of Africa, the Middle East and the countries in southern Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
Why the name Blood Moon
Total lunar eclipse takes place when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. When the eclipse begins the outer Earth’s shadow known as the penumbral shadow darkens the moon slightly. Soon after the umbral shadow starts covering the moon and starts turning it reddish brown. The reddish-brown color of the moon is due to the Rayleigh effect (which is also the cause of the reddish appearance of sun during sunset) and the refraction of light by the Earth’s atmosphere into the umbra. This red-brown appearance is the reason for its name being Blood Moon.
When can you see the Blood moon eclipse
The time for the longest lunar eclipse will be 4:21 pm EDT on July 27 as per the EarthSky.org. The total eclipse (Umbral time) will last from 3:30 pm to 5:13 pm EDT. If we include the penumbral time the eclipse will last for 3hr and 55min.
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