A rare total lunar eclipse, also known as a “Blood Moon”, is set to light up the night sky on the night of March 13 or March 14. This anticipated celestial event will see the Moon turn a deep red as it passes through Earth’s shadow, creating a mesmerizing spectacle for skywatchers.
What is the Blood Moon?
The phenomenon occurs when the Earth, Moon, and Sun align perfectly, causing the Earth’s shadow to fall across the Moon. As sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere, it bends and scatters, casting a reddish hue on the Moon’s surface, similar to the colors seen during a sunrise or sunset.
Expected Timelines To Watch
The eclipse will begin at 12.09 am on Friday, March 14, in Missouri and Kansas City, Missouri, with its peak at 1.58 am, when the Moon will be closest to the center of the Earth’s shadow. This is the first total lunar eclipse in three years, with another expected to take place in September.
In North America, the moon began to appear as if a chunk was being taken out of it at 1.09 am Eastern Time (0509 GMT), with the total eclipse occurring between 2.26 am and 3.31 am, as per NASA.
In France, the total eclipse occurred from 7.26 am to 8.31 am local time (0626-0731 GMT), according to the French Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation.
The total lunar eclipse is expected to be visible in parts of Europe, the Americas, and across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Will Blood Moon be visible from UAE?
Residents of the UAE won’t be able to view this event in person. The Dubai Astronomy Group (DAG) confirmed that the eclipse will not be visible from the region. But for those keen to witness this rare occurrence, a live broadcast will be available on Time and Date’s YouTube channel.
Astronomer Jake Foster, at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, shared insights on the phenomenon stating, “As sunlight enters the atmosphere, different wavelengths (and therefore colours) of light will be scattered and bounced around by differing amounts. Blue light scatters a great deal, which is why our skies are blue,” reported The Telegraph. He added, “Red light is mostly unaffected by the gases of the atmosphere, so it travels all the way through them and out the other side where it can shine on the moon, making it appear red.”
