Total lunar eclipse will turn the Moon bright red this Sunday!
A total lunar eclipse will take place this Sunday, lasting for 82 minutes. If bright enough, the eerie, dark, reddish-brown Moon will be visible to the naked eye, the Svábhegy Observatory told on Monday.
Amazing view this Sunday
During the eclipse, our only natural satellite will pass into the Earth’s shadow, taking on a “ghostly red or brownish” hue as it rises in the eastern sky. By the time it appears after sunset, the Moon will already be partially eclipsed. In Budapest, the total phase will begin at 7:31 p.m., reach its maximum at 8:12 p.m., and last until 8:53 p.m.
Observers in eastern Hungary will see the phenomenon a few minutes earlier, while in the west it will be slightly later. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves through the Earth’s shadow cone, blocking sunlight from directly illuminating its surface. This does not happen at every full moon, since the Moon’s orbit is tilted slightly relative to the Earth’s orbital plane.
During a total eclipse, the Moon is fully immersed in the Earth’s shadow, becoming darkened but not disappearing completely, instead glowing in mysterious shades of red and brown. The reddish colour is caused by sunlight scattering through the Earth’s atmosphere – the same effect that makes sunsets appear red.
We might see a bright red Moon this weekend
If the eclipse is bright enough, the Moon’s shadowy, reddish disc will be easily visible to the naked eye. The total eclipse will last until 8:53 p.m., with the Moon spending a full 82 minutes within the Earth’s umbra. As atmospheric scattering increases towards the end of the total phase, the Moon will become more clearly visible.
It will then take a further 1 hour and 4 minutes for the Earth’s shadow to fully move off the lunar surface, meaning the partial eclipse will last until 9:57 p.m. After this, only a faint penumbral shadow will remain, noticeable only to sharp-eyed observers.
To enjoy the event, a clear eastern horizon free from obstruction will be essential. According to the Observatory, a special public programme will also be organised at Svábhegy to allow visitors to experience the rare spectacle together.
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