A part of the planet will be able to attend a eclipse total from Luna, a rare phenomenon during which the brightness of the satellite dims and progressively takes on a coppery color.
The concealment of Luna by the shadow of the Earth it will be possible to observe in South and Central America and in the eastern part of North America. It will also be perceived from regions of Europe and Africa.
The eclipse total from Luna usually occurs twice a year, when the Sun, the Earth and the Luna are perfectly aligned Luna is in its full phase.
As it plunges into Earth’s shadow, the Luna loses its whiteness. But it is still visible because the sun’s rays, deflected by the Earth, continue to reach it through “atmospheric refraction”, explains Florent Deleflie, from the Paris-PSL Observatory.
“During an eclipse, only the Earth can illuminate the Luna through this forwarding of red rays”, adds the astronomer.
The phenomenon can be seen with the naked eye and with a clear sky it is extremely photogenic.
The eclipse It will last about five hours and in its total phase – when the star is completely covered by the shadow of the Earth – a little more than an hour.
The next eclipse total from Luna It will take place in November, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Florent Deleflie recalls that lunar eclipses have made it possible to demonstrate “since ancient times” that the Earth is round.
“On the lunar disk, the boundary between the shadow zone and the part illuminated by the Sun is slightly curved: it is the projection of the roundness of the Earth”, he explains.
What time will the total eclipse begin in May?
According to the NASA space agency, the start of the eclipse is estimated at 10:32 p.m. for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil, 9:32 p.m. for Bolivia and Paraguay or 8:32 p.m. for Mexico and Peru.
However, the maximum point of the lunar eclipse, the most anticipated moment by viewers, is estimated at 01:11 am in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, 00:11 am in Bolivia and Paraguay or 11:11 pm in Mexico and Peru.
Where to watch the May total eclipse live?
For those who cannot enjoy the event, NASA will broadcast it in real time on its web platform. (With information from AFP)
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