Lunar Eclipse 2023: The first penumbral lunar eclipse of 2023 dazzled space enthusiasts on May 5. People in parts of Asia, Africa and other continents witnessed this celestial event. A penumbral lunar eclipse coincides with a Full Moon known as the “Flower Moon”, which occurs in May every year. Let’s learn more about the Flower Moon and see some visual details of the first penumbral lunar eclipse of the year in this article.
What is a full moon?
The moon’s period is governed by the moon’s own position in its orbit, not the view from any particular location on Earth. A full moon occurs when the moon is on the exact opposite side of the earth from the sun. There are a total of 17 different types of full moons.
Source: AP Photo/ NG Han Guan
The full moon in May is often referred to as the “flower moon” because the flowers begin to grow in North America at that time. Spring in the Northern Hemisphere usually begins in May, and the season is known for its multitude of flowers, hence the name Flower Month.
Source: AP Photo/Bikas Das
The name pays tribute to this month’s characteristic flowering. The Indians call it the Planting Moon, the Budding Moon, and the Egg-laying Moon. Since frogs are usually active in May, the Cree people call it the Frog Moon. Other cultures have different customs; The Cherokee call the full moon of May “the month of sowing”, which is reflected in their title of May.
Why is it difficult to watch Hoa Nguyet?
This year’s flower moon coincides with a penumbral lunar eclipse, making it difficult to enjoy the full moon. During a penumbral eclipse, Earth’s dimmer outer shadow, known as the penumbra, contrasts with its larger inner shadow, called the shadow, and appears slightly less bright.
Source: PTI
In fact, you most likely won’t be able to tell the difference between a solar eclipse and a normal full moon. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon is about 3,800 km from Earth. The Supermoon Effect makes the Moon appear larger than usual and reduces the distance between the Earth and the Moon by 20,000 km, leading many to consider this to be the shortest distance between the two bodies.
Source: PTI
This year we will witness two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses, meaning a total of four lunar eclipses. On April 20, a hybrid solar eclipse took place, which was the first. The second, rarer, annular eclipse will occur on October 14. The first lunar eclipse of the year, the penumbral lunar eclipse, takes place on May 5. And the last lunar eclipse of the year, the first lunar eclipse. part, will take place on May 5, October 28.
Categories: Trends
Source: vcmp.edu.vn