The moon will offer us a “spatial” show on the morning of Friday 14 March: a total eclipse. Unfortunately for us, from Italy it will be possible to follow only the first part, since our satellite will set an hour before the start of the totality. In Rome, for example, Luna will set at 6:30 am, while the total eclipse will be reached at 7:26.
The total eclipse of the moon of Friday 14 March
The situation will be similar in most Italian locations, making observation complicated by our territory complicated. The ideal visibility will only be possible by the Americas, which will enjoy the entire phenomenon, with a total duration of just over six hours. The eclipse will begin at 4:57, Italian time, when the moon enters the terrestrial penumbra. Just more than an hour later, at 6:09, he will touch the entrance in the shade, which will start the most interesting phase of the astronomical event. The totality will begin at 7:26 and then end at 8:32, with the culmination of the eclipse scheduled at 7:59 am. The exit from the shade will take place at 9:48 am, while the eclipse will end at 11:00 with the end of the penumbra phase. The full moon involved in this eclipse will be close to the apogee, or at the maximum distance from the earth (about 406,000 km), which will be touched just over three days later.
How to see the space show
As the astrophysicist Gianluca Masi, head of the Virtual Telescope Project, explains, from Italy we will be able to follow only the very first phases of the eclipse: that of penumbra and the input in the shade. Although little compared to the totality, it is worth trying the observation, taking into account that the moon, from the beginning, will already be very low to the West, just 16 degrees for Rome: “With the naked eye it will be possible to notice the slight darkening due to the penumbra, while the” bite “of the shadow will be much more marked, just before the moon sets. A binoculars and a telescope will allow these first stages. The Virtual Telescope Project will broadcast the entire phenomenon live, thanks to its international team of astrophotographers who, from the USA, from Panama and Canada will ensure the necessary observational coverage to the project. The direct, as always free, will be available on the site and will start at 5:30 on Friday 14 March.