Wanna know why my top 6 lunar eclipse facts are BETTER THAN YOURS? If, yes, then you are at the right place at the time. We, humans, already knew about the occurrence of the lunar eclipse for millennia. I would still dare you never knew about these exclusive facts that I am about to tell you right now…!!!
Just to mention, the next lunar eclipse will occur on November 19, 2021. It will be a partial lunar eclipse. Meaning, the earth’s natural satellite will partially pass through the Earth’s Umbra i.e the darkest part of the earth’s shadow.
Top 6 Lunar Eclipse Facts you Never Knew
If you think that you already knew about the top 6 exclusive facts about the lunar eclipse, well, here is your chance to think again!!!
- Earth is the Cause
- A lunar and solar eclipse always occurs in pairs
- Earth encounters an average of 2.5 lunar eclipses in a calendar year
- The life of a lunar eclipse is for hours
- The whole of the earth can never observe a lunar eclipse at once
- In future millennia, a lunar eclipse would be a myth
Earth is the Cause
Yup, you heard me right. A lunar eclipse occurs because the earth comes between the moon and the sun. In other words, when the earth comes between the moon and the sun, it obstructs the sunlight from falling on the lunar surface. Hence, a lunar eclipse occurs.
Not to mention, an eclipse of the moon can only occur on the day of the full moon. Moving ahead, depending on the fact that how much earth is obscuring the sunlight from falling on the lunar surface, a lunar eclipse can be further bifurcated into three types.
Such that: a total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon completely passes through the earth’s umbra i.e the darkest part of the earth’s shadow. Just to let you know that the total eclipse of the moon is also known as the blood moon.
Similarly, a partial lunar eclipse occurs when the moon partially passes through the Earth’s Umbra. At last, a penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the earth’s penumbra i.e the lightest part of the earth’s shadow.
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A lunar and solar eclipse always occurs in pairs
The next one in my list of top 6 unconventional lunar eclipse facts is that a lunar and solar eclipse always occurs in pairs. Well, not like that they both occur on the same calendar day. On the contrary, a lunar eclipse always occurs two weeks before the occurrence of the solar eclipse.
For example, in the Month of May-June 2021, we observed a total lunar eclipse of May 26. Just after two weeks, we had an annular solar eclipse on June 10, 2021.
In fact, this type of ecliptic pair will happen again in the month of November-December 2021. Such that, we have a partial lunar eclipse on November 19, and, we have a total solar eclipse on December 4, 2021.
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Earth encounters an average of 2.5 Lunar Eclipses in a calendar year
The next one in my list of top 6 fun facts about the lunar eclipse is its unusual occurrence. A lunar eclipse normally occurs somewhere between 2 to 5 times a year. However, as per the astronomical data available of the past century, the earth encounters an average of 2.5 eclipses of the moon in a calendar year.
On the other hand, the earth encounters an average of 2.4 solar eclipses of the sun in a calendar year. As a result, one can simply say that lunar eclipses occur more often than solar eclipses. Just to mention, out of all the types of lunar eclipses, a total lunar eclipse is the rarest among all.
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The life of a lunar eclipse is for hours
Since the size of the earth is too big as compared to the size of the moon, the life of a lunar eclipse is for hours. The diameter of the earth is about 12,742 Kilometers across. On the other hand, the diameter of the moon is merely 3,474 km.
Therefore, as a result, during the occurrence of the lunar eclipse, the earth is able to obscure the lunar surface for a very long time. On average, the duration of a lunar eclipse is at least an hour. However, if I talk in the reference to the different types of lunar eclipses, they all vary in their respective frequency.
For example, according to space.com, the total lunar eclipse of July 16, 2000, which was visible in the Pacific Ocean, eastern Asia, and Australia was one of the longest on record, lasting 106 minutes and 25 seconds. For an eclipse longer than this, we have to wait till August 19, 4753.
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The whole of the earth can never observe a lunar eclipse at once
Well, not only lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse too can never be observed by the whole of the earth at the same time. WHY? Because the earth is round not a flat surface.
In other words, just because the earth is round, when half of the earth’s surface is observing the eclipse, the other half doesn’t even know about it. Ahh, a small correction, the other half does know about it.
They just can’t observe it with their own eyes. However, there are so many digital media online platforms where you can see it live.
In future millennia, a lunar eclipse would be a myth
The last but not the least one in my list of exclusive facts about the lunar eclipse is that it would become a myth in the future millennia. Yup, it’s TRUE. I know, I know, you are thinking how?
Well, just because the moon is moving away from the earth, there would be no occurrence of the eclipse of the moon. In other words, without having a moon around us, we won’t be having a lunar eclipse.
As per the available astronomical data, the moon is moving away from earth at a rate of 1.6 inches per year. Just to let you know, it would take millennia for the moon to completely move away from the earth. So, just chill…!!! There is nothing to worry about, well, at least, for millennia.
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