On March 14 Where can you see the lunar eclipse?
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Cookie SettingsThe first month of spring comes up trumps with a cosmic shadow play: A total lunar eclipse occurs in mid-March. Although this is not quite as spectacular as a solar eclipse, it still offers a beautiful celestial spectacle.
When is the lunar eclipse?
- On Friday, March 14, the full moon plunges into the shadow of the earth.
- The lunar eclipse begins when the moon enters the Earth's penumbra at 4:56 am.
- The shadow play only becomes visible when the moon enters the umbra at 6:09 am.
- At 7:26 a.m., the moon has completely entered the umbra and totality begins.
- The duration of totality will be longer than usual.
In which countries can the lunar eclipse be observed?
However, there is one small drawback: for many places in Central Europe, the moon will still set during the eclipse. This means that for Switzerland it is only a partial lunar eclipse. For all early risers and astronomy fans who want to take a look at the natural spectacle, it is advisable to find a place with an unobstructed view of the western horizon, as the moon is already low at this time.
The conditions for observing the total eclipse of the full moon will be optimal in large parts of the USA and Canada. Especially in the west of the continent, the spectacle of the lunar disk being completely submerged in the Earth's shadow will be clearly visible.
In New Zealand and on the Chukchi and Kamchatka Peninsulas in Eastern Siberia, the moon will rise during totality on Friday evening.
How does a lunar eclipse occur?
Eclipses are the result of the celestial interplay between the sun, moon and earth. During a lunar eclipse, the earth stands in a straight line between the sun and the moon - the full moon dips into the shadow cast by the earth illuminated by the sun.
The fact that a lunar eclipse does not occur every time there is a full moon is due to the slight inclination of the moon's orbit to the ecliptic - the plane of the Earth's orbit. Because of this inclination of around five degrees, the moon usually passes above or below the Earth's shadow on its orbit around the Earth.
Only when the full moon is exactly at one of the two intersections of the moon's orbit and the Earth's orbit will it be caught by the Earth's shadow. These points of intersection are also called dragon points - in reference to Chinese mythology: when people in ancient China saw an eclipse, they believed that a celestial dragon would devour the star.
How can I photograph the lunar eclipse?
Of course, a lunar eclipse is also a popular photo subject. However, taking beautiful, razor-sharp photos of the moon in the night sky is not that easy. The photo service provider ifolor.ch gives tips for the perfect moon picture:
- Check the weather forecast
Beautiful photos can only be taken when the sky is clear. - Choose the right equipment
It's best to use a telephoto lens with a focal length of at least 200mm. You should also use a tripod and remote shutter release to ensure that the photos are really sharp. - Note the camera settings
Select an ISO between 400 and 800 - newer models can even use up to 1,600. The aperture should be set to at least f/5.6 to capture the entire moon. As a rule of thumb, the less light in the sky, the longer the exposure time.
When is the next lunar eclipse?
- September 07, 2025: total lunar eclipse
- March 03, 2026: total lunar eclipse
- August 28, 2026: partial lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse in which 9.1 percent of the moon was covered.
Image: dpa
A partial lunar eclipse in which 9.1 percent of the moon was covered.
Image: dpa
What else can you expect to see in the night sky in March?
This month has even more celestial phenomena to offer:
- A real rarity: Venus as evening and morning star on the same day
On March 20, Venus can be seen both in the evening and in the morning. This is because it changes from its evening star phase to its morning star phase this month. - Partial solar eclipse at the end of the month
On March 29, the dark disk of the new moon will cover the sun up to a maximum of 93 percent. However, the time and the degree of coverage are highly dependent on the location. You can expect the sun to be eclipsed between half past eleven and one o'clock noon. - Constellations change to spring scenario
The changeover to the spring scenario begins in the evening constellation sky. In meteorology, March is considered the first month of spring. Although the striking winter images still attract attention, they have already moved far into the western half of the sky. - Spring equinox
The sun crosses the celestial equator at exactly 10:01 a.m. on March 20 and moves to the northern hemisphere of the firmament. This time is considered the astronomical beginning of spring. The vernal equinox occurs. The technical term is the vernal equinox. - And don't forget: March 30 is the daylight saving time changeover.
The editor wrote this article with the help of AI.
