Have you ever wondered why plenty of sources are calling the total lunar eclipse on April 4, 2015, as a partial lunar eclipse? Well, the answer lies in its very short totality, the moment the moon is covered entirely by the Earth’s shadow.
“The whole eclipse from start to finish will take 5 hours and 57 minutes. Due to the short totality (4 minutes and 43 seconds), many sources are labeling the Eclipse as a Partial Lunar Eclipse,” explains the Time and Date website.
So, although the event is technically a total eclipse (4 minutes and 43 seconds), most of it will be a partial eclipse, totaling 5 hours and 52 minutes.
The event on April 4 is the shortest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century. And just in case you are wondering about date of the longest total lunar eclipse, it will happen on July 27, 2018 and would last for 1 hour 42 minutes.
Visibility
This beautiful eclipse is also called a “blood moon” because the moon will look red or reddish; the exact color will vary based on atmospheric conditions. Because all eclipse moons are full moons, it will surely be a beauty to behold.
As with all other eclipses, this one won’t be visible in all parts of the Earth. This total lunar eclipse will be visible in eastern Asia (including the Philippines), the Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, and western North America.
Other Interesting Facts
This eclipse comes just two weeks after a solar eclipse which was visible in Europe? The April 4 lunar eclipse is not visible in Europe.
Did you know that eclipses always come in pairs, occurring 2 weeks apart from each other? Meaning, a lunar eclipse will always occur 2 weeks before or after a solar eclipse.
What’s great about lunar eclipses is that you do not have to worry about damage to yours eyes. You won’t need protective equipment to view the moon – and you can easily view it with the naked eye. Of course, using a pair of binoculars or a telescope would greatly enhance the view.
This blood moon is bringing terror to some religious groups who believe it is a sign that the world is ending or of an impending doom. After all, it occurs the same time as the Passover, an important Jewish festival to commemorate the moment the angel of death passed over their homes [whose doors were painted with animal blood] and spared their children before punishing the Egyptians.
However, Time and Date pointed out that at least 8 of these eclipses have happened since the First Century – and the world has not ended to this day! Thus, despite all those terrifying rumors, the world is not yet going to end…
