Stunning Cosmic Phenomena: Catching the Morning Lunar Eclipse and End-of-Month Solar Eclipse
- 🕒 ~1 Min Read
Dawn's Diminished Sun - At the month's close, the sun will lose its brilliance - Sun's obscuration by the Moon in the dawn - final day light dimming at month's end
Early birds, listen up! This week, while sipping your coffee, you might've caught a glimpse of a rare cosmic spectacle - a partial lunar eclipse! But alas, German-speaking regions missed the total phase, as mentioned by Uwe Pilz, the big cheese of the Star Gazers Association in Bensheim, Hesse. However, around 6 am, lucky observers with clear skies could see the moon's shadow in the west.
Clouds: Nature's Grumpiest Bouncers
You might've thought the German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach had your back for a clear view, but they were wrong. The skies were cloudy in the south and southwest, obstructing the celestial shadow play.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon dives into the Earth's umbra at the time of the full moon. For this event, the eclipse's penumbral stage began at 4:56 am German time, but the shadow play was only visible once the moon entered the umbra at 6:09 am. Unfortunately, the moon set shortly after that: Hamburg at 6:43 am, Berlin at 6:29 am, and Munich at 6:34 am. It disappeared before the show could reach its peak.
But fear not, there's another show coming your way at the end of the month: a partial solar eclipse on March 29th!
Solar Eclipse: The Sequel You've Been Waiting For
The timing and magnitude of the solar eclipse differ by location. In Hamburg, it'll start at 11:25 am and wrap up at 13:09 pm. In Berlin, it'll be from 11:32 am to 13:08 pm; in Munich, the show runs from 11:27 am to 12:56 pm.
Now, everyone wants to be Dorothy in Oz, right? Standing in front of the Wizard saying, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" Well, when observing the solar eclipse, remember: Don't be a DIY scientist and look directly at the sun without proper protection! Save your eyes, and remember, safety first!
- Lunar Eclipse
- Solar Eclipse
- Germany
- Despite missing the total phase of the recent lunar eclipse due to cloudy weather in Germany, a partial solar eclipse is set to be visible in Germany at the end of the month, providing another opportunity to witness a celestial spectacle.
- The community policy of the Star Gazers Association in Bensheim, Hesse, often shares updates on astronomical events, such as the recent lunar eclipse, which was only visible in its full glory to observers with clear skies early in the morning.
- During vocational training programs, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of safety, especially when observing solar eclipses, as looking directly at the sun without proper protection can lead to severe eye damage.
