“Blood” Moon to rise over Czechia in rare total lunar eclipse

To begin with, could you explain in simple terms how a lunar eclipse actually happens?

“It’s really simple because the situation is that there is the Sun and the Moon and they have to be on opposite sides from the Earth. It means that the Moon, the Earth, and the Sun are in one line, and this can occur only when there is a full Moon.

“If this situation happens, we can observe a lunar eclipse, but some eclipses are only partial, and some are so-called penumbral eclipses (when the Moon passes only through the Earth’s faint outer shadow). Only when the Moon is in the full shadow of our Earth can we see the full or total eclipse of the Moon.”

Why will this eclipse be visible from Czechia and what should people expect to see?

“The second condition is that if we want to observe a total eclipse, the Moon has to be above our horizon. All the places on the Earth where the Moon is above the horizon are good for observing a total eclipse, and that will be the situation this Sunday; the Moon will be above our horizon.

“This eclipse is very special for us, especially in Prague, because the total phase of the eclipse starts just at the moment when the Moon rises above our horizon. We will see the Sun, which is setting at the western horizon, and on the opposite side, in the eastern horizon or a little bit southeast, there will be the Moon rising, already in eclipse.

“It will appear dark red, because during the total eclipse the Moon doesn’t disappear completely, as there is light that passes through our atmosphere and bends into the shadow.

“We will see the eclipse when the Moon rises, and if we observe further at about 20:53, the total phase will end, but then for the next hour there will also be a partial eclipse. It will be a very special and very impressive eclipse for us.”

How often do we usually get the chance to observe a total lunar eclipse from our territory, from Czechia?

“It depends, because as you said, the previous eclipse was in 2019, the previous total eclipse. The next eclipse visible from here will be only partial.

“But the next total eclipse will happen at the end of 2028, on December 31. So that will be the next total lunar eclipse visible from Czechia.”

So when people go outside to watch the eclipse, what’s the best way or place to look for it?

“The best place is because it really starts when the Moon rises, and it will be very low above the horizon. It’s worth being somewhere in a high position, such as at the top of a tower or hill.

“We will have difficulty in Štefánik Observatory in the centre of Prague because the eastern horizon is not clear in the direction of the Moon. If you want to visit any public observatory to observe the eclipse, I would recommend Observatory Ďáblice, which is smaller than Štefánik but has much better conditions.

“In Prague, because there are many tall buildings, climb any tower or leave the city and go to any hill. Just find a place where the eastern horizon is clear and the Moon will appear.”

So let’s hope the skies will be clear…

“That’s very important, for the skies to be clear. And again, I have to say that the Moon will be very dark when the eclipse begins, so it will be a challenge to find it in the sky.

“But look in the opposite direction from the Sun, because the Sun will be on the western horizon and the Moon on the eastern horizon, very low above the horizon.”