Home » Technology » In the morning it will be possible to observe a partial lunar eclipse. The planets will also be seen

In the morning it will be possible to observe a partial lunar eclipse. The planets will also be seen

The full moon enters the earth’s shadow at 3:32:07 CEST. At that moment, however, no change will be visible to the naked eye. Only after a quarter to five does the upper left of the Moon begin to look a bit “smoky.”

The partial eclipse starts at exactly 4:27:53 CEST. The moon will enter the full shadow of the earth, which will appear black when viewed with the eye, but in a photograph taken with a longer exposure time it will be possible to notice that its center is red and its edge is gray-blue to gray, due to the refraction of the Sun’s light in the Earth’s atmosphere. Light refracts both in the higher layers with ozone (the source of the bluish edge of the shadow) and in the denser ones, through which only red light passes and the other colors are scattered.

“We will not see a total eclipse. It starts at 5:29:13 CEST, but the moon sets earlier, for example in Prague at 5:12 CEST. After five o’clock, the Sun will also be above the horizon, so the Moon will be less visible above the horizon, ”points out Martin Gembec from the Czech Astronomical Society.

The previous lunar eclipse could be observed on June 5, 2020 and was half-shadowed, the next lunar eclipse will take place on October 28, 2023 and will also be partial.

Lunar eclipse
It is an astronomical phenomenon in which the full moon and the earth and the sun are in a straight line. The earth in the middle position, among other bodies, then overshadows the moon from sunlight.
There are three types of lunar eclipses, namely half shadowin which the Earth does not completely obscure any part of the Moon, partlyin which the Earth completely overshadows part of the surface of the Moon and completein which the Moon is completely overshadowed by the Earth.
A lunar eclipse can last up to 107 minutes and can be observed two to three times a year from various places on Earth.

From an elevated position and with a binocular

Lunar eclipses are a phenomenon observable with the naked eye, but astronomers recommend using even a small telescope – binoculars. This year’s partial lunar eclipse will be rather less observable.

Because it takes place very low above the southwestern horizon, experts advise to choose an elevated spot, such as a high hill with a clear view of the southwest.

A string of planets

It pays to get up on Monday morning because of another nice phenomenon.

“The morning sky now offers, in addition to Mercury, a parade of all the planets visible to the naked eye. While the Moon will be in the southwest on May 16, we will find the planets above the east to the southeast. The lowest in the east will be Venus, but it will appear the brightest. To her right, Jupiter will also be fairly clear. Further south will be the weaker Mars and the closest to the south will be the equally weak Saturn, ”attracts Martin Gembec.

Distribution of planets in the morning on Monday 16.5.2022

Foto: Stellarium, Martin Gembec

Observatories where partial lunar eclipses can be observed
Turnov Observatory From 4:00 to 5:30, assuming the Moon will see over the southwestern horizon. Admission is voluntary
Beggar Observatory From 4:00 to 5:30, only in clear weather. Admission is voluntary
Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ondřejov Observatory From 4:00 to sunrise on the Radar Meadow Observatory. Free entry
Source: Czech Astronomical Society

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