He Total lunar eclipse It is a phenomenon that usually captivates astronomy lovers for the visual splendor it offers, although the quality of observation depends on the climatic, light and equipment conditions used.
According to NASA, a lunar eclipse occurs when the earth prevents sunlight from reaching our satellite. This means that, during the night, the full moon disappears completely by being covered by the shadow that our planet projects.
There are two types of lunar eclipses: total and partial. In the case of the partial eclipse, The Earth’s satellite is going through a part of the umbra (shadow) that projects the earth.
This astronomical phenomenon is called “blood moon” in different parts of the world, including Guatemala.
When will the lunar eclipse be and where to see it in Guatemala?
The lunar eclipse will occur between the March 13 and 14, 2025 And it will be visible in the national territory. However, the quality of the observation will depend on the climatic conditions of the day and the equipment used to contemplate the phenomenon.
The use of binoculars or a small telescope is recommendedaccording to the suggestions of National Geographic experts.
The Luna eclipse has different phases. Edgar Castro, Guatemalan astronomer, explains what they are and at what time they can be observed:
- Beginning of the Penumbra: March 13, 21.57 hours
- Start of the umbra: March 13, 23.09 hours
- Start of the totality: March 14, 00.25 hours
- Eclipse maximum: March 14, 00.58 hours
- End of the totality: March 14, 1.32 hours
- End of Umbra: March 14, 2.48 hours
- End of the Penumbra: March 14, 4 hours
Why is it known as a blood moon?
According to NASA, when a total moon eclipse happens, This can acquire a reddish tone because the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs the other colors while part of the sunlight is projected to the lunar surface.
In other words, when the earth stands between its satellite and the sun, it projects its shadow on the moon, which continues to receive sunlight filtered by the atmosphere, which allows the passage of the longest waves, corresponding to the red and orange tones, according to National Geographic.
For this reason, many call the total lunar eclipse as “Blood moon”