A glowing red ’Blood Moon’ in July will be the longest lunar eclipse in a century — here’s how to see it
本世纪最长的月食即将发生!届时地球将被覆盖1小时43分钟
July is shaping up to be an excellent month for astronomy fans.
7月份对于天文爱好者来说是个一个极好的月份。
On the night of July 27 and the early morning hours of July 28, skywatchers in the Eastern Hemisphere will be treated to the longest lunar eclipse set to occur in the 21st century, EarthSky reports.
Astronomers expect the total eclipse to last for a full 1 hour and 43 minutes, with the partial eclipse — which occurs before and after the total eclipse phase — lasting for 3 hours and 55 minutes.
天文学家预计全食会持续整整1小时43分钟--发生在全食相前后--持续3小时55分钟。
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are directly aligned, and the moon’s orbit brings it directly into Earth’s shadow. This particular eclipse will last so long because the moon will pass directly into the darkest region of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra, which will also give the moon a reddish "blood moon" sheen.
July’s full moon will happen at the same time as the moon’s apogee — which is when the moon hits its furthest point from Earth in its monthly orbit, according to EarthSky. It’ll be the smallest and furthest full moon of the year, which means the moon will take more time to pass through Earth’s dark shadow, making the eclipse last longer.
Just a few days after the lunar eclipse, Mars will pass by Earth at its closest point to since 2003. On July 31, the red planet will be only 35.8 million miles away from Earth, making it clearly visible to the naked eye.