Total lunar eclipse visible in America, Europe and Africa

Total lunar eclipse visible in America Europe and Africa

Visibility area of ​​the total lunar eclipse of May 16, 2022. (Image made with LInspektor 1.14.0.0 by Robert Nufer.)

Interested in what you just read?

Subscribe to the newsletter The ephemerides : everything that will happen in the sky during the coming month: what to watch, where to watch? All our newsletters

As the Moon, the Earth casts a shadow in space. In its race around our Planet, the Moon sometimes enters the cone shadow of the Earth. It is therefore no longer illuminated by the Sun and becomes very dark. We then witness a lunar eclipse. This is what will happen on this day.

This is the first lunar eclipse of the year, which will have two. The second will take place on November 8. Unfortunately, this will be invisible in Europe.

The eclipse will be visible in full from North and South America. It will be partially visible from northwestern North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean, which will not see the start of the eclipse, as well as Europe and Africa which will not see When the eclipse ends, the Moon will be below the horizon.

The eclipse will begin at 1:31 a.m. UT (3:31 a.m. local time in mainland France) by entering the penumbra. The Moon will take a color greyish which will be barely noticeable. A little less than an hour later, at 2:27 a.m. UT (4:27 a.m. local time), the Moon will enter the shadow of the Earth. Observers will see the Moon gradually being nibbled away by shadow, as the first glimmers of thedawn will appear.

It is at 3:28 UT (5:28 local time) that totality will begin, in the already significant light of daybreak. L’star will turn a beautiful reddish color. In France, the Moon will be about to set, and therefore close to the horizon. The maximum will occur a little more than 40 minutes later, at 4:11 a.m. UT (6:11 a.m. local time). Observers located in the far west of France (eg Brest) will be able to take advantage of the maximum before the moon disappears below the horizon.

Another about 45 minutes, and totality will end at 4:54 UT. But this will be invisible in France, the Moon will be set. The Moon will emerge from Earth’s shadow a little over an hour later at 5:55 UT. The exit from the penumbra will last nearly an hour, at 6:51 a.m. UT. In America, where the phenomenon will be visible in its entirety, observers will be able to see that our Moon will have regained its usual brilliance.

fs4