In the early hours of Sunday to Monday, we will experience a total lunar eclipse , a truly remarkable astronomical phenomenon worth observing if you are curious and, above all, interested in these topics. If you want to know the best way to see it and what time to be ready , we've provided all the details below. Don't miss a thing.
What is the total lunar eclipse
In the early hours of Sunday, June 20th to Monday, June 21st, the first total lunar eclipse of 2019 will occur. Lunar eclipses happen when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, aligning with them and creating a shadow cone that darkens our satellite. When the entire lunar surface enters this cone, it is called a total lunar eclipse, precisely the phenomenon we will be able to enjoy on Sunday night.
This will be the first and only total lunar eclipse of 2019. The second lunar eclipse we will witness, on July 16, will be partial, a phenomenon that will be repeated in the four penumbral-partial lunar eclipses that will occur in 2020. So, if you're interested in these phenomena, you'd better try to see it this Sunday, because it won't be repeated with the same characteristics for quite some time (until mid-2021, to be exact).
This isn't the only special feature of this eclipse. Thanks to it, we'll be able to enjoy the so-called super blood moon , a moment when the moon turns red due to the Earth's atmosphere filtering out the blue and green light from the sun's rays—allowing only the red to pass through. We'll be able to revel in a striking and eye-catching image that was already nicknamed the 'Wolf Blood Moon' in the Middle Ages.
Where and when to see the total lunar eclipse
The total lunar eclipse will be visible in the early hours of Sunday to Monday, starting at 2:35 a.m. UTC, which means 3:35 a.m. in mainland Spain (2:35 a.m. in the Canary Islands) . The phenomenon will be visible in Europe, the Americas (it can be observed at 20:35 p.m. on January 20 in Monterrey, Mexico, for example), and the Americas. The total eclipse , which will last approximately one hour, will not be visible until 4:39 a.m. UTC, and will be visible in western Africa, Europe, and the Americas, ending at 5:40 a.m. UTC.
The National Geographic Institute indicates that in Spain the best locations for observation will be those in the west. In the eastern half of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, however, not all phases of the eclipse will be visible (because the Moon will set before the phenomenon ends). An illustration above and below will help you better understand the geographical scope.
Since the eclipse can be seen with the naked eye and without any protection, our only advice is to go to an area far from the city and light pollution to better enjoy the phenomenon, and of course, bring binoculars or a telescope , if you have them, to better appreciate its details. Good night.