Eclipse penumbral de Luna this Sunday: how and where to look

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Any amateur astronomer knows that a eclipse penumbral de Luna is not just a show to throw rockets. The decrease of the light of our only satellite is barely noticeable, nothing to do with the field red in the middle of the black night of a magnificent total eclipse. However, why not, the phenomenon is a good opportunity to observe the night sky and again be aware of the dance that brings the triplet formed by the Earth, the Sun and the Moon.

The next eclipse penumbral lunar will happen during the early hours of Sunday morning, July 5, and will be visible from Spain . Around the world, may be seen from Africa, south and west of Europe, South america, south and east of north America and the south Pacific.

To view the article, you will have to get up early, since the onset of the penumbra will occur to the 5.07 gmt. The maximum reach 6.28 and ended at 7.49, still visible in its final stages at the western end of Africa, the Americas and the Pacific.

lunar eclipses occur when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the light of our star. On the contrary, when it is the Moon which stands between the Earth and the Sun produces a solar eclipse.

Difficult to see

As explained from the website of AstroAfición, eclipses penumbrales are “very subtle and difficult to observe”. Occur when the Moon enters the penumbra area generated by the Earth. In this area only a part of the light rays from the Sun are blocked by our planet. Therefore, during an eclipse penumbral, “the Moon does not darken too much and only with measuring equipment, or with very good view, we will be able to perceive a decrease in its brightness”, they say. Therefore, although it is not strictly necessary, it is convenient to perform the observation with an amateur telescope.

According to the National Astronomical Observatory (NAO), the fraction of lunar diameter immersed in the penumbra will be 35%. This is the third eclipse penumbral de Luna of this 2020. The first occurred on the 10th of January and there was another on the 5th of June. Both were visible from Spain. The eclipse tomorrow will not be the last of the year, as there will be another on the 30th of November.

this new eclipse is also compounded by the void of Sun of 21 June, which was not visible in Spain, and the total eclipse of the sun that will occur on the 14th of December, neither as you can see from our country.