After thepartial solar eclipselast week , we are now about to get a total lunar occultation , because eclipses follow in pairs . Tomorrow , our raw satellite will cross into the shadow of the Earth , darken before seize thecharacteristic crimson colorof this case of eclipse , also known as a " Blood Moon " full lunar occultation .
Billions of peoplewill be able to see it , weather permitting . People in North America , East Asia , Australia , New Zealand , and across the Pacific Ocean will have a fantastic survey of the phenomenon , and it ’s worth looking out for , there wo n’t be another one for three years .
The upshot will begin at 8:02 UTC on November 8 , with the Moon entering the penumbra of the Earth . Totality will start over two hours later and it will last about 85 minutes . Unlike total solar eclipse that are over in a matter of minutes , lunar eclipses are a more prolonged affair – and in this one , the Moon will also eclipse the planet Uranus , coincidentally locate along the lunar path in the sky this calendar month .
Why does the Moon turn red during a total lunar eclipse?
The most fascinating fact about full lunar eclipses is that , while in complete shadow , the Moon appear red . The rationality for this is the same as why sunsets and sunrises are cherry-red : The ambience filters and scatter sunshine in a singular way , called Rayleigh scatter . Blue Inner Light is break up more than red , getting redirected all over the sky , so when the Sun is high-pitched in the sky , the sky appears blue . When the Sun is low on the horizon , we get the cerise tones typical of dawn and dusk .
Because the Moon does n’t have any brightness of its own and is just reflecting the Sun ’s light , during a total lunar eclipse that light goes through our standard pressure because Earth is straight off in between the Sun and Moon . The atmosphere scatters the light blueish wavelength of light so much they are removed from the sunlight hitting the Moon , just leaving the longer red ones that lapse through our atmosphere .
If the sky above you is cloudy or you ’re not where the eclipse is visible , worry not . you’re able to see it on-line thanks to theVirtual Telescope projection . Do n’t miss it , this will be the last total lunar eclipse until March 2025 .
