Not solely will the moon flip a dusky shade of red this night, however the red planet would be the closest it has been to Earth for nearly 15 years. Our neighbour has an elliptical orbit, which suggests its distance from us incessantly changes. There’s a double astronomical delight in store for stargazers on Friday, because the lunar eclipse coincides with a cameo look from Mars.
How can I see Mars on Friday 27 July?
Clear skies are forecast for the majority of South Africa, which means most of us have a great chance of catching this celestial two-for-one spectacle.
As the moon rises over the eastern horizon, Mars is likely to follow its path – trailing Earth’s satellite by approximately 30 minutes. The planet will be in sight during the early evening and then intermittently throughout the period of the eclipse.
What will Mars look like in the sky?
If you’re taking in the lunar event – scheduled to last from 20:19 – 00:24 – the chances are you’ll see a smaller red dot there, too.
Mars won’t appear as large as the moon, due to it being millions and millions of miles further away. It will, however, shine brighter. You also won’t need binoculars or a telescope to see this cosmic ballet, as it is visible to the naked eye.
How do I locate Mars next to the moon?
As The Guardian report, Mars and the moon will be in close proximity – separated by just five degrees, which is roughly the width of three fingers held at arm’s length.
We are in for a treat tonight- #bloodmoon lunar eclipse.
Some interesting facts about tonight’s eclipse:
– The last one was in 2011 and the next one is predicted in the next 100 years.
– South African’s will have the greatest view of the moon. pic.twitter.com/7K5CDQvAft— Big Bay Managed by BBMPOA (@BigBaympoa) July 27, 2018
Lunar eclipse: What causes a “blood moon”?
A Blood Moon can solely happen throughout a lunar eclipse. The moon makes its way beyond the shadow that Earth casts from the solar’s light. This goes on to shroud the moon in darkness, altering its look from a vibrant white glow to a dark shade of red.
The gasoline molecules of Earth’s ambiance scatter blue wavelengths of light from the solar, whereas the red-shaded wavelengths move straight by it. Thus, we get a Blood Moon!
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