The moon has long been considered something mystical and endowed with magical powers. Therefore, when the night star suddenly turned blood red or, even worse, disappeared from the sky, our ancestors considered this a bad sign. Over time and the development of science, people have found a more mundane explanation for this phenomenon, which you can learn about in this article. You can also study the scheme of the lunar eclipse.
What is this phenomenon
The moon is the true satellite of the Earth. It has a huge impact on our planet. It controls the ebb and flow, the development of plants and microorganisms, and the speed of the Earth's rotation.
In addition to important functions, at night the Moon gives its magical light. Interestingly, in fact, the satellite does not have its own glow, and the silvery glow is the result of the reflection of sunlight. But why does it happen that the Moon changes its hue or disappears from sight altogether? It's all abouteclipse.
An eclipse is a term in astronomy when one cosmic object obscures another. There are certain schemes. The definition of a lunar eclipse is the obscuration of the satellite by the Earth from the Sun, at this moment plunging it into its shadow.
In addition to the nighttime eclipse, astronomers are studying, creating many schemes, and a solar eclipse. The reason for its occurrence is the opposite - the Moon is between the planet and the hot star, covering it with itself.
Why is the satellite eclipsed
Schemes of the occurrence of solar and lunar eclipses are very interesting to study. They show how bodies move, at what moment they obscure one object from another. Let's take a closer look at the lunar eclipse pattern.
All bodies in the sky, from dust particles to planets, move, at a certain time being on the same axis. When the Moon, Earth and Sun are on the same axis, the satellite enters the shadow radius of the planet. The shadow diameter of the Earth at a distance of ≈363 thousand km is equal to 2.5 diameters of the Moon, which is why the satellite can hide completely, but before that, it passes the penumbral region of the planet.
Variations of the lunar eclipse
Thanks to lunar eclipse patterns, it has been found that the Moon goes through several stages of immersion before it completely disappears into the shadow radius. Based on them, the following phases of the eclipse were identified:
- full;
- private;
- partial.
Total or central eclipse receivedits name from the fact that the moon passes in the center of the shadow cone. This phase is the longest and can last up to 108 minutes. Such duration occurred only in 1953 and 2000
As for a partial lunar eclipse, the diagrams show that in this phase the satellite is only half immersed in the shadow, while the other part is in the penumbral stage. It is she who continues to reflect sunlight, visible in the sky.
The penumbral eclipse is the last kind of phases in the arrangements of the lunar eclipse. Then the satellite does not enter the cone, but remains in the penumbra field. The reflection of the sun's rays becomes muffled, although it is rather difficult to notice with the naked eye. All that can be seen on a clear day is the obscured edge of the moon, which happens to be in close proximity to the shadow radius.
Danjon Scale
In addition to schemes of a total lunar eclipse, there is also the Danjon scale. It was created by André Danjon to determine the level of obscuration of the Moon during a total eclipse. After all, being in any phase of blackout, the satellite, in fact, does not disappear from the sky, but only changes its color, depending on the depth of being in the shadow.
The following scale levels are distinguished:
- 0 is the darkest shade. It is at this level that the moon appears to have disappeared from the sky.
- 1 - the satellite is visible, albeit with great difficulty. Its color becomes dark brown or grayish.
- 2 - bright edges with a very dark core. Usually has a rusty tint.
- 3 - the edges of the moonturn yellow and brick inside.
- 4 is the famous blood moon. The satellite turns bright red or deep orange.
The reasons why the Moon in most cases takes on a reddish hue, in fact, are devoid of any mysticism attributed to this phenomenon. The celestial body becomes burgundy due to the fact that, even being in the very center of the shadow, the Moon continues to be illuminated. The rays of the Sun passing along the planet are scattered in its atmosphere, which is why they partially reach the satellite. Since the atmosphere is the least sensitive to red hues, these are the colors that the Moon reflects.
How to see a lunar eclipse
Not to miss the eclipse for beginners and professional astronomers, lunar eclipse charts help determine future dates. Having learned the nearest number, it is not at all necessary to acquire heavy-duty equipment. To determine the time, just look at the diagram, and a partial lunar eclipse can be seen with the naked eye.
However, if you want to see the moon's departure from the planet in full detail, use a telescope, set it up in advance, or use a powerful camera with good magnification. Then, in addition to unforgettable impressions, you can take high-quality photos. In addition, observing the phases of the satellite eclipse with instruments does not require additional protective training, as is required for solar eclipse to protect the eyes.
When and where to watch the lunar eclipse
In the reflections on the diagrams of how a lunar eclipse occurs, scientists have found that it is possible only during the full moon, but not every time. The reason for this is the inclination of the orbit of the earth's satellite to the ecliptic (the Earth's orbital path around the Sun) by 5°. The places where the orbits intersect are called the lunar nodes, and dimming is possible only if the new moon passes in close proximity to the node, otherwise the Earth will not be able to cast a shadow.
For this reason, the satellite falls into the shadow two or three times during the whole year, when the full moon is near one of its nodes, and three celestial bodies are on the same line. It is during this period that two eclipses can be caught at once. The scheme of solar and lunar eclipses has been developed for many years.
Although there are often years when the eclipse of the satellite did not occur at all. The reason for this is that the three celestial bodies did not turn out to be on the same line in time, and the Moon passed only in partial shade, without affecting the shadow center.
Nevertheless, in more successful years for astronomers and space lovers, everyone can watch the lunar eclipse from anywhere in the world, being there at night. As for a solar eclipse, seeing it is a rare chance. Watching the disappearance of a star is only possible in certain areas.
The influence of a cosmic phenomenon on a person
As already mentioned, the Moon affects our planet not only in outer space. In addition to the fact that it acts on natural phenomena, it also affectsinhabitants of the earth. The night luminary is responsible for the physical condition of a person and his well-being. That is why many people, especially the elderly, are keenly aware of the phases of the moon.
But if the Moon itself is responsible for the "shell", then the lunar eclipse has a huge impact on the internal state. The emotional background of a person and his mental he alth depend on it. Moon addicts begin to feel the effects of the coming eclipse weeks in advance and continue to feel it a couple of weeks after.
So what effect does a lunar eclipse have? Symbolically, the departure of the Moon into the shadow means the completion of one life stage and the birth of something new. This may be the fulfillment of a promise made to yourself for a long time or a rejection of habits and getting rid of the superfluous and unnecessary.
Emotionally, an eclipse can trigger a rush of different feelings. Therefore, the decision of something important should be postponed until later. Attacks of sudden aggression or, conversely, unexpected tenderness are not uncommon.
Ordinary meditation will help you avoid unpleasant situations, when you listen to your body and soul. Also, do not plan something grandiose, such as weddings or the conclusion of an important contract. In addition, during this period, do not cling to the old and boldly move forward. And most importantly - try not to enter into conflict situations or try to sort things out. It will not lead to anything good.
A bit of history
People from ancient times revered the heavenly bodies, spiritualizing them and endowing them with incredible power, enveloping them in many legends and fairy tales. Therefore, the mythsbypassed the lunar phenomenon.
The most common legend told about terrible creatures that seek to eat the moon, which is why it changes its color. To drive away dragons, jaguars and other creatures, people performed entire rituals - they sang and shouted, danced and stomped, or simply prayed until the eclipse ended. It was believed that if the satellite was not saved in time, then a terrible monster would descend to earth and destroy all life.
Over time, people began to notice that the moon is filled with terrible redness at certain intervals, after which studies began. As early as 1504, our ancestors knew that the disappearance of a satellite was a temporary phenomenon. It was then that this knowledge helped Columbus not to die of hunger. While in Jamaica, the explorer scared the leaders that he would take the Moon from them if they did not provide food and water. What was the surprise of the leaders when the silver disc actually disappeared from the sky, appearing back after they presented food.
Conclusion
In addition to legends and myths, lunar eclipses have made a huge contribution to scientific discoveries, one of which was the proof of the sphericity of our planet. Despite the fact that in our time there are many ready-made schemes of a lunar eclipse, the study of this phenomenon continues in all corners of the world.
