When the sun, moon and earth are in a certain arrangement to each other, a lunar eclipse occurs.
Here we go on the trail of the spectacle and explain when this special natural spectacle will happen again in the sky over Germany.
Munich - It is as spectacular as it is rare - the lunar eclipse.
This heavenly spectacle is all the more excited every time around the world.
Suddenly the otherwise pale moon shines in red or a related color.
But how does this phenomenon even come about?
And when can we next enjoy it?
We want to clarify these and other questions about the so-called blood moon here.
How does the lunar eclipse arise?
Not only astrologers are aware that both the earth and the moon are constantly in motion.
The former moves its orbits around the earth, this in turn around the merely rotating sun.
The moon is only visible from the earth because it is illuminated by the sun - at least at almost any time.
Because if the blue planet is exactly between the other two celestial bodies, there will be a total lunar eclipse.
Then no more direct sunlight shines on the surface of the moon.
The side of the celestial body visible from earth is now in the darkest part of the earth's shadow.
Experts refer to this as umbra or umber.
Lunar eclipse: Because of the red shade, the term blood moon is also used
The moon can also be seen without the light irradiation from the sun, because some of the rays are deflected by the earth's atmosphere in such a way that they hit the surface of the moon, explains
timeanddate.de
the phenomenon. The moon appears in the earth's shadow in copper-red, dark yellow or brownish color. The normal case here is the shade of red, which is why it is also referred to as a blood moon. Due to dust or clouds in the earth's atmosphere, the moon sometimes seems to have taken on a different color.
There are several advantages of lunar eclipses over solar eclipses.
Looking at the spectacle in the sky does not pose any danger to the eyes because the moon itself is not a source of light.
Therefore, the chance of seeing a lunar eclipse with your own eyes is greater than an eyewitness to a solar eclipse.
Because the former is always visible from the entire night side of the earth.
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Best view of the sky phenomenon: lunar eclipses pull people under their spell.
© Matthias Balk / dpa
When will there be the next blood moon?
Numerous opportunities for special pictures about Germany
Let's take a look at the next upcoming lunar eclipses.
Not all of them can be admired in Germany, but there will be various opportunities in this decade.
The next
partial lunar eclipse
is due on
November 19, 2021
, it will be mainly visible in America and East Asia. At 7:02 a.m. that morning Germany notices the beginning of the penumbral eclipse, while the transition to partial eclipse at 8:18 a.m., the moon has already disappeared behind the horizon. The greatest magnitude in Munich is reached at 7.19 a.m.
On May
16, 2022
, South America in particular has much of the
total lunar eclipse
.
Here in Germany the start of the penumbral eclipse can be experienced at 3.32 a.m., as well as the start of the partial eclipse at 4.27 a.m. and the main phase at 5.29 a.m.
At the time of maximum blackout at 6.11 a.m., however, the moon can no longer be seen.
For Munich, the maximum is reached at 5.31 a.m.
There is
no chance of impressions of the
total lunar eclipse
in Germany on
November 8, 2022
.
In contrast, this is reserved for North America, Asia and Oceania.
Another
partial lunar eclipse will
follow on
October 28, 2023
.
Spectacular images of Germany should also be shown here.
In addition to Europe, Asia and Africa can also count themselves lucky.
It starts around 8 p.m. German time.
The maximum blackout should be at 10:14 p.m.
The entire duration of the eclipse is given by
timeanddate.de
as four hours and 25 minutes, the end is accordingly reached at 0.26 a.m.
Lunar eclipse: 2028 on New Year's Eve and 2029 just before Christmas
On
14 March 2025
a is
total lunar eclipse
expected. The blood moon is said to be seen mainly on the American continent, but also in the far west of Europe in Ireland and Portugal. In this country we can only enjoy the partial lunar eclipse. The beginning of the penumbral eclipse is predicted at 4.57 a.m., the transition to the partial lunar eclipse is at 6.09 a.m. When the main phase starts at 7.26 a.m., nothing should be seen of the moon in Germany. The maximum magnitude for Munich is expected at 6.28 a.m.
September 7th, 2025
should be painted very thickly
.
Then a
total lunar eclipse is
expected over Germany.
In addition to large parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania can also enjoy special treats.
It is true that neither the beginning of the penumbral eclipse nor the partial eclipse or the main phase can be seen in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Instead, the maximum blackout at 8:11 p.m. and the second half of the spectacle, which is supposed to end at 10:55 p.m. after a total of five hours and 27 minutes.
The
total lunar eclipse
on
March 3, 2026
will be visible in America, Asia and Oceania.
In Germany you can only have this sky phenomenon described to you.
For the
December 31, 2028
One is
total lunar eclipse
predicted. Shortly before the turn of the year, this can also be enjoyed in Germany. The beginning of the penumbral eclipse and the partial eclipse comes too early. You can also enjoy the transition to the main phase at 5.16 p.m. in this country. The maximum darkening is reached at 5:51 p.m., at 8:40 p.m. the moon has completely stepped out of the earth's shadow again. According to
timeanddate.de,
this eclipse lasts
five hours and 36 minutes.
On June
26, 2029
, South America in particular can
look forward
to the
total lunar eclipse
. Germany experiences the beginning of the penumbral eclipse at 2.34 a.m., as well as the transition to the partial eclipse at 3.32 a.m. and the transition to the main phase at 4.31 a.m. At the time of maximum darkening at 5.22 a.m., the moon has already disappeared below the horizon. Thus, the greatest magnitude is reached over Munich at 5.16 a.m.
The
total lunar eclipse
from December
20th to December 21st, 2029,
is
an early Christmas present
.
Here Germany is there for the full five hours and 58 minutes.
The penumbral eclipse begins at 8:42 p.m., the maximum darkening is expected at 11:41 p.m., at 2:40 a.m. everything should be over.
Overview of the next lunar eclipse spectacle: The blood moons at a glance
Lunar eclipse on November 19, 2021:
partial - only the beginning of the penumbral
eclipse
is visible in Germany - it starts at 7:02 a.m.
Lunar eclipse on May 16, 2022:
total - visible in Germany are the beginning of the penumbral eclipse, the beginning of the partial eclipse and the beginning of the main phase - beginning at 3.32 a.m.
Lunar eclipse on November 8, 2022:
total - not visible in Germany
Lunar eclipse on October 28, 2023:
partial - completely visible in Germany - 8.01 p.m. to 0.26 a.m.
Lunar eclipse on March 14th, 2025:
total - visible in Germany are the beginning of the penumbral eclipse and the beginning of the partial eclipse - beginning at 4.57 a.m.
Lunar eclipse on September 7th, 2025:
total - in Germany the maximum
eclipse
, the end of the main phase, the end of the partial eclipse and the end of the penumbral eclipse are visible - end at 10.55 p.m.
Lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026:
total - not visible in Germany
Lunar eclipse on December 31, 2028:
total - visible in Germany are the start of the main phase, the maximum eclipse, the end of the main phase, the end of the partial eclipse and the end of the penumbral eclipse - end at 8:40 p.m.
Lunar eclipse on June 26th, 2029:
total - visible in Germany are the beginning of the penumbral eclipse, the beginning of the partial eclipse and the beginning of the main phase - starting at 2.34 a.m.
Lunar eclipse on December 20 and 21, 2029:
total - completely visible in Germany - 8:42 p.m. to 2:40 a.m.
Lunar eclipse: celestial phenomenon only comes about under two conditions
Two conditions must be met for a lunar eclipse to occur. There must be a full moon, i.e. the earth is between the sun and the moon. Also, the moon must be near the two lunar nodes - also known as dragon points. Because at these two nodes there is an exactly straight line between the sun, earth and moon. Only here do the planes of the earth and moon meet, because the angles of the two orbits are different. That is why there is not a lunar eclipse with every full moon, emphasizes
timeanddate.de
.
In addition to a total lunar eclipse, there is also a partial lunar eclipse.
This means the time span in which the moon is partially in the earth's shadow.
In this phase the three celestial bodies only form an approximately straight line, in the penumbral lunar eclipse this is even more odd.
With the latter, the moon only moves through the outer part of the earth's shadow, as a result, the visible part of its surface remains exposed to direct radiation from the sun.
Unfortunately, this can easily be overlooked and mistaken for an ordinary full moon.
Lunar eclipse: Magnitude indicates the size of the darkened lunar surface
The size of the darkened lunar surface - in expert jargon this is called magnitude - depends on the position of the observer on earth during a lunar eclipse. As the planet is known not to be a disk, the moon is perceived differently in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere. The earth's shadow moves accordingly in different directions, the orientation of the lunar eclipse varies.
A distinction is made between two types of magnitude: the umbral or umbra magnitude and the penumbral or penumbra magnitude.
The former is about how far the moon penetrates into the umbra, the relationship between the apparent diameter of the moon and the diameter of the umbra is determined.
In the case of a partial lunar eclipse, the magnitude is between 0 and 1; in the case of a total, the value is greater than 1.
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A real eye-catcher: During a lunar eclipse, the moon often looks blood red.
© Soeren Stache / dpa
Blood moon: Penumbral magnitude can also have values greater than 2
The penumbral magnitude indicates how far the moon is immersed in the penumbra.
Because the latter is much larger, the value can also be significantly larger.
With a total lunar eclipse this is usually greater than 2, with a partial lunar eclipse it is between 1 and 2.
If the penumbral magnitude is less than 1, it is referred to as the penumbral lunar eclipse, which has already been mentioned.
Then only the penumbra of the earth falls on the surface of the moon.
The lower the value, the more difficult it is to perceive the earth's shadow on the surface of the moon.
With a penumbral magnitude of less than 0.6, the lunar eclipse can hardly be distinguished from an ordinary full moon.
(mg)
List of rubric lists: © Soeren Stache / dpa
