Lunar eclipses occur when Earth positions itself in between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow throughout the lunar surface area.
They can just take place throughout a moon and are a popular occasion for skywatchers worldwide as they do not need any expert devices to take pleasure in (unlike solar eclipses).
Two overall lunar eclipses will occur in 2022 and will show up all over the world. The very first lunar eclipse of the year happened on May 15-16 and the second will happen on Nov. 8. To learn when, where and how to see this year’s lunar eclipses, take a look at our lunar eclipse 2022 guide.
Related: Solar eclipse guide 2022: When, where & & how to see them
Daisy signed up with Space.com in February 2022, prior to then she worked as a personnel author for our sis publication All About Space publication.
What are lunar eclipses?
A lunar eclipse is triggered by Earth obstructing sunshine from reaching the moon and developing a shadow throughout the lunar surface area.
The sun-blocking Earth casts 2 shadows that fall on the moon throughout a lunar eclipse: The umbra is a complete, dark shadow, and the penumbra is a partial external shadow.
There are 3 kinds of lunar eclipses depending upon how the sun, Earth and moon are lined up at the time of the occasion.
- Total lunar eclipse: Earth’s shadow is cast throughout the whole lunar surface area.
- Partial lunar eclipse: During a partial lunar eclipse, just part of the moon goes into Earth’s shadow, which might appear like it is taking a “bite” out of the lunar surface area. Earth’s shadow will appear dark on the side of the moon dealing with Earth. Just how much of a “bite” we see depends upon how the sun, Earth and moon align, according to NASA(opens in brand-new tab)
- Penumbral lunar eclipse: The faint external part of Earth’s shadow is cast throughout the lunar surface area. This kind of eclipse is not as significant as the other 2 and can be hard to see.
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What occurs throughout a lunar eclipse?
Why does the moon turn red throughout an eclipse?
During an overall lunar eclipse, the lunar surface area turns a rusty red color, making the label “blood moon”. The spooky red look is brought on by sunshine engaging with Earth’s environment.
When sunshine reaches Earth, our environment scatters and filters various wavelengths. Much shorter wavelengths such as blue light are spread external, while longer wavelengths like red are bent– or refracted– into Earth’s umbra, according to the Natural History Museum(opens in brand-new tab) When the moon goes through Earth’s umbra throughout an overall lunar eclipse, the traffic signal shows off the lunar surface area, providing the moon its blood-red look.
” How gold, orange, or red the moon appears throughout an overall lunar eclipse depends upon just how much dust, water, and other particles remain in Earth’s environment” according to NASA researchers(opens in brand-new tab) Other climatic aspects such as temperature level and humidity likewise impact the moon’s look throughout a lunar eclipse.
How typically do lunar eclipses take place and the length of time do they last?
In huge terms, a lunar eclipse is a reasonably typical phenomenon, with about 3 lunar eclipses taking place every year, according to the National History Museum. Around 29% of lunar eclipses are overall lunar eclipses, according to TimeandDate.com(opens in brand-new tab)
Did you understand?
A solar eclipse constantly takes place about 2 weeks prior to or after a lunar eclipse.
An overall eclipse can be seen from any provided area– typically– as soon as every 2.5 years.
A lunar eclipse generally lasts a couple of hours according to the National Weather Service with totality (the period of overall obscuration of the moon) varying in between 30 minutes to over an hour.
Lunar eclipses are more quickly observed than solar eclipses, as they can be seen with the unaided eye by any observer positioned where the moon is above the horizon.
( Reminder: Never look straight at the sun, even throughout an overall solar eclipse, without security such as validated eclipse glasses; severe and long-term eye damage can result.)
How to see a lunar eclipse
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Lunar eclipses are amongst the simplest skywatching occasions to observe.
To view one, you merely head out, search for and take pleasure in. You do not require a telescope or any other unique devices. Field glasses or a little telescope will bring out information on the lunar surface area– moonwatching is as intriguing throughout an eclipse as it is at any other time. If the eclipse happens throughout winter season, wrap if you prepare to be out throughout– an eclipse can take a number of hours to unfold. Bring warm beverages and blankets or chairs for convenience.
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Scientists like to view lunar eclipses, too.
” We can get truly excellent science out of what takes place to the surface area of the moon throughout overall lunar eclipses, however once again, the cool thing is that the moon modifications color,” Noah Petro, a research study researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, informed Space.com. “It’s something enjoyable to see– it’s benign, however it’s a modification. And anytime we see [a] modification in the skies, it’s constantly type of amazing.”
If you want to snap an image of a lunar eclipse, here’s our guide on How to photo a lunar eclipse with an electronic camera. And if you require imaging devices, our finest video cameras for astrophotography and finest lenses for astrophotography have suggestions to make certain you’re all set for the next eclipse.
Additional resources
Learn more about lunar stages and eclipses with NASA Science(opens in brand-new tab) Check Out Hanwell Community Observatory(opens in brand-new tab)‘s reality sheet for more lunar eclipse info. Discover why we do not have a lunar eclipse on a monthly basis with the Rice Space Institute(opens in brand-new tab) at Rice University.
Bibliography
NASA. Blood Red Moon: Total Lunar Eclipse. NASA. Obtained May 10(opens in brand-new tab), 2022,
O’Callaghan, J. (2019, July 16). Lunar eclipse guide: What they are, when to see them and where. Nature Museum(opens in brand-new tab) Recovered May 10,2022
NASA. (2017, May 3(opens in brand-new tab)). What is an Eclipse? NASA. Recovered May 10, 2022.
Hocken, V., Kher, A. Total Lunar Eclipse. timeanddate.com(opens in brand-new tab) Obtained May 10,2022