MADRID – Soon you will be able to admire the first total lunar eclipse since July 2019 in a big part of Europe and in Spain. The next one visible to people in Europe won’t be until October 2023, so don’t miss out!
In May, we can enjoy a lunar eclipse in Spain that will occur mid-month on May 16, coinciding with the moon in the full moon phase. The eclipse can be seen just before sunrise, as of 5.26 am. First, the moon turns red. This is popularly known as the blood moon.
How to see it in Spain?
Unlike other astronomical phenomena such as the star or meteor shower, it is advisable to have an optical instrument, such as binoculars or a telescope, to see the lunar eclipse.
Then, find a point with little light pollution and a clear horizon to get a good view of the lunar eclipse.
What is it?
Normally, the moon reflects light from the sun to Earth, but during a lunar eclipse, the Earth gets in the way and the moon receives no sunlight. This occurs when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon and casts a shadow on the moon. They are much more frequent but less spectacular than solar eclipses.
Total Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon
One speaks of a complete or total lunar eclipse when the moon passes through the umbra of the Earth. However, the moon never gets completely dark. Some sunlight still reaches the moon through the Earth’s atmosphere. Because this light bounces back to Earth, the moon is still visible from Earth during a complete eclipse.
Rayleigh’s scattering in the Earth’s atmosphere gives that bit of light red colour. This makes it look reddish and hence the name ‘blood moon’.
Lunar calendar May 2022
Full Moon: May 16
Waning Moon: May 22
New Moon: May 30
