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Tonight, just before dawn, the Moon and Earth will be engaged in a spectacular eclipse: over 96% of the lunar disk will be covered by the shadow of our planet and will be tinged with red. The eclipse will take place just before dawn and will be visible from all over Italy, in particular from the regions to the west, but it will be important to have wide visibility, without obstacles, because it will take place just before the Moon disappears below the horizon.
The third big show of the month
«After the solar eclipse and the peak of the Perseids on 12 August, the sky is ready to stage the third great show of this month», astrophysicist Gianluca Masi, scientific director of the Virtual Telescope which will show the event in streaming and which just a few days ago, on 20 August, celebrated its 20 years of activity during which it created around 400 streaming events to bring every type of public closer to the beauty of the sky.
The times of the eclipse
The eclipse will begin at 3.23am, with the Moon entering the Earth’s penumbra. At 4:33 the satellite will begin to immerse itself in the actual shadow, starting the most interesting phase, which will reach its maximum at 6:12, when over 96% of the lunar disk will be immersed in the shadow of our planet, showing the reddish color typical of almost complete lunar eclipses. “At that point the Moon will be very low in the west, in the middle of the morning twilight, given the imminent rise of the Sun,” added Masi.
Where to look and what is needed
At the maximum moment of the eclipse, from Rome the Moon will appear at around 4 degrees above the western horizon, from Milan around 5 degrees, from Bari around 1 degree, always in a now clear sky. «Similarly to the solar eclipse of August 12th, this lunar eclipse also requires the choice of an observation site from which the horizon is clear of obstacles in a westerly direction. Your own eyes or a small pair of binoculars – concluded Masi – are enough to enjoy the show.”
Anyone who misses the event will have to wait a long time but will be able to enjoy an even more interesting show, this time a total lunar eclipse expected on New Year’s Eve 2029.