The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) said in a statement yesterday that the Moon will appear an unusual coppery red during a “total lunar eclipse” in the skies above Macau tomorrow evening.
According to the statement, despite cloud cover, people in Macau will still be able to watch part of the total lunar eclipse.
The bureau recommended viewing the “mysterious red Moon” with the naked eye or through a telescope in a relatively open place facing east.
The statement pointed out that at 6:16 p.m., the Moon will fully enter the umbra* of the Earth, opening the prelude to the “total lunar eclipse”, which will end at 7:42 p.m. The phase of total eclipse will last for one hour and 26 minutes, while the following partial eclipse will end at 8:49 p.m. and the whole phenomenon will end at 9:57 p.m.
The statement noted that the next total lunar eclipse will occur on September 8, 2025.
According to Wikipedia, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth and Moon are exactly or very closely aligned – in syzygy** – with the Earth between the other two, which can happen only on the night of a full moon when the Moon is near either lunar node. The type and length of a lunar eclipse depend on the Moon’s proximity to the lunar node.
The reddish colour of a totally eclipsed Moon is caused by the Earth completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the Moon, with the only light reflected from the lunar surface refracted by Earth’s atmosphere. This light appears reddish for the same reason that a sunset or sunrise does, according to Wikipedia.
*The area on the Earth or Moon experiencing the total phase of an eclipse. “Umbra” is Latin for “shadow”.
** An alignment of three celestial bodies (for example, the Sun, Earth, and Moon) such that one body is directly between the other two, such as occurs at an eclipse. “Syzygia” is Latin for “conjunction”.
This poster provided by the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) yesterday illustrates how a lunar eclipse is being formed.
