Blood moon 2019: All information about the total lunar eclipse
On January 21, 2019 it was time again: A total lunar eclipse spread over the sky. This natural spectacle has fascinated people for centuries. Find out what is behind it and when the next celestial event is due here.
Blood moon on January 21, 2019 - all information about the total lunar eclipse
On the night side of the earth, people in parts of Asia, North America, Africa, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific can witness a spectacular sky spectacle.
- The spectacle started at 4:34 a.m. when the moon wandered into the shadows of the earth.
- The best way to observe the blood moon was between 5:41 a.m. and 6:44 a.m. The peak of the total lunar eclipse was reached at 6:21 a.m.
- From 7:51 a.m. the spectacle came to an end - the moon left the umbra of the earth. However, this was no longer visible to us due to the sunrise.
Blood moon - that's behind it
The total lunar eclipse is a synonym for a so-called blood moon. This only happens with a full moon - when the sun, earth and moon form a line.
- However, these are not the only requirements for a blood moon. The moon must also be near a lunar node.
- A lunar node is the point at which the lunar orbit intersects with the earth's orbit. These two orbits are identical, but not the same: that of the moon is inclined by five percent compared to Earth's orbit.
- With a blood moon, the moon cannot be illuminated by the sun as usual. Because the sun disappears completely from behind the earth from the perspective of the moon.
- However, the sun's light is refracted in the earth's atmosphere. Sunlight appears red in the center of this refraction.
- This center is in the umbra of the earth, exactly where the moon is. Therefore, from our perspective, the moon appears reddish.
- By the way, the next total lunar eclipse that can be seen from Germany will take place on May 16, 2022. From 03:32 in the morning you will be able to watch the sky spectacle on this day.
In our next article we will show you how you can optimally capture a blood moon with the right camera settings.