BERLIN – A total lunar eclipse will be visible over large parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America today (27), the Britain-based Royal Observatory said yesterday (26).
The total eclipse will last for 1 hour and 43 minutes, as the colour of the moon turns red, while the partial phase will continue for more than 6 hours, making it the longest eclipse of the century. The total lunar eclipse, popularly known as “blood moon,” occurs when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon, blocking the sunlight from reaching the moon directly.
According to the Royal Observatory, “the moon usually turns a deep, dark red because it is illuminated by light that has passed through the Earth’s atmosphere and has been bent back towards the moon by refraction.”
Mars will also reach its opposition and shine bright today, making it easier to look at with the naked eye. During opposition, Mars and the sun are directly opposite the Earth. – dpa