BLOOD MOON, MARS WOW STARGAZERS
Enthusiasts from around the world gather to watch rare phenomena
MALAYSIANS were treated to a celestial spectacle as two rare astronomical phenomena occurred on Friday night. Enthusiasts from here and around the world gathered to watch the “blood moon”, as well as Mars, which was at its closest to Earth.
National Planetarium director Anita Bahari said Mars observation was also special because between 9pm and 11.30pm, the planet was only about 57.8 million kilometres away from Earth.
“The last time Mars was that close to Earth was on Aug 27, 2003, when it was just 55.8 million kilometres away. This is special because the next time Mars will come that close to Earth is on Aug 28, 2287, and that’s 269 years from now.”
The blood moon phenomenon took place from 2.24am to 6.19am, with full eclipse at 3.30am.
“This is the second blood moon this year, after the super blue blood moon on Jan 31. What’s also special about it is that the two-hour blood moon view was the longest in the century.”
The blood moon phenomenon occurs when the moon, in total eclipse, appears reddish as it is illuminated by sunlight filtered and refracted through Earth’s atmosphere.
Anita said the planetarium was opened to the public last night.
“We supplied four telescopes to those who came, while the Federal Territories Mufti Department provided more. Others brought their own telescopes.”
She said three other planets were clearly visible last night — Jupiter and four of its moons; Saturn and its rings; and, Venus.
Trader Kamarul Anuar Mohd Kornain, 43. who visited the planetarium with his three children, said he was awed by the phenomenon.
He said he had been interested in astronomy since young, but never had the opportunity to observe such phenomenon through a real telescope.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia high-frequency communications research fellow Dr Sabirin Abdullah went to the planetarium with two telescopes.
“I brought two so that others could have the chance to look as well. I only started becoming interested in astronomy last year, but I bought my own telescopes.
“I was truly disappointed when I couldn’t observe the super blue blood moon in January, but the blood moon will make up for it.”
PARIS: The longest “blood moon” eclipse this century dazzled skygazers across the globe on Friday, coinciding with Mars’ closest approach in 15 years in a thrilling celestial spectacle.
As Earth’s constant companion slowly sailed across the skies, crowds gathered around the world to catch a glimpse of the rare phenomenon. Beside Lake Magadi, 100km southwest of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, young members of the Maasai community watched the eclipse through a high-powered telescope provided by a local couple.
“Until today I thought Mars, Jupiter and the other planets were in the imagination of scientists,” said Purity Sailepo, 16.
“But now I’ve seen it, I can believe it and I want to be an astronomer to tell other people.”
Unlike with a solar eclipse, viewers did not need protective eye gear to observe the rare display.
For about half the world, the moon was partly or fully in Earth’s shadow for from 1714GMT to 2328GMT, six hours and 14 minutes in all.
The period of complete eclipse — known as “totality”, when the moon appears darkest — lasted from 1930GMT to 2113GMT. At the same time, Mars hovered near the moon in the night sky, easily visible to the naked eye.
Amateur astronomers in the southern hemisphere were bestplaced to witness the rare sight, especially in southern Africa, Australia and Madagascar, though it was also visible in Europe, South Asia and South America.
More than 2,000 people, including children armed with binoculars, gathered in the Tunisian capital of Tunis.
“I hope this eclipse will bring us happiness and peace,” said Karima, 46, without taking her eyes off the sky.
However, bad weather thwarted the cosmic display in several parts of the world.
Widespread monsoon rainstorms and thick clouds hid the moon across much of India and its neighbours, which should have had a prime view.
Similarly, eager observers, who had assembled on cliffs and beaches in the English county of Dorset, were left in the dark due to an overcast sky.
“It’s disappointing. I took a few photos but there was nothing but a streak of pink in the sky,” said Tish Adams, 67.
Meanwhile, frustrated crowds of would-be moon admirers gathered on a hill in cloudy north London consoled themselves by breaking into a rendition of Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler’s 1983 hit Total eclipse of the heart.
Those in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro had more luck, snapping the red moon in the clear night sky with their phones and cameras.
“I thought it was pretty and I liked Mars even more, which you could see right next to the moon,” said Talita Oliveira, 34.
Mars appeared unusually large and bright, a mere 57.7 million kilometres from Earth on its elliptical orbit around the sun.
A total lunar eclipse happens when Earth takes position in a straight line between the moon and sun, blotting out the direct sunlight that normally makes our satellite glow whitish-yellow.
The moon travels to a similar position every month, but the tilt of its orbit means it normally passes above or below the Earth’s shadow — so most months we have a full moon without an eclipse.
When the three celestial bodies are perfectly lined up, however, the Earth’s atmosphere scatters blue light from the sun, while refracting red light onto the moon, usually giving it a rosy blush.
This gave the phenomenon the name “blood moon”, though Mark Bailey of the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland said the colour could vary.
It depends partly on “how cloudy or transparent those parts of the Earth’s atmosphere are which enable sunlight to reach the moon”, he said.
“During a very dark eclipse the moon may be almost invisible.”
The long duration of this eclipse was partly because the moon made a near-central passage through Earth’s umbra — the darkest, most central part of the shadow.
“For those alive today, it’s a unique event,” said Sven Melchert, head of a local society of astronomy enthusiasts in Heppenheim, western Germany.