Bosscha Researchers Answer Questions About Total Lunar Eclipse: Cycles And Levels Of Darkness

Total lunar eclipse (Aprillio Akbar/Antara)

BANDUNG - Researchers at Bosscha Observatory say a total lunar eclipse can be observed at intervals of 2.5 years.

"Total lunar eclipse can be observed in a time interval of 2.5 years. The last total lunar eclipse to occur in Indonesia is in 2018," said a researcher at Bosscha Observatory, Yatny Yulianty.

Quoted from the press release of the Public Relations Bureau of the Bandung Institute of Technology on Wednesday, May 26, Yatny also explained that during 2021 the lunar eclipse will occur twice, namely a total lunar eclipse on May 26 and a partial lunar eclipse on November 19.

At the time of the eclipse, the color of the moon will darken. According to astronomers at Bosscha, Agus Triono Observatory, the level of darkness of the full moon's color at the time of observation is determined by atmospheric conditions.

"So the normally white full moon will turn dark. Well, the darkness will depend on atmospheric conditions", Agus said.

He explained that the color of the moon during a total lunar eclipse at the observation site depends on several factors such as the amount of moisture content; air pollutants from combustion, factory smoke, and motor vehicle fumes; as well as the dust or ash content of volcanic eruptions.

The more material it contains in the atmosphere, he said, the darker the moon's color.

While the red color that appears at the time of a total lunar eclipse, according to researchers is caused by sunlight that is scattered by dust and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere.

Bosscha Observatory held a virtual observation of the night sky during the total lunar eclipse on May 26, 2021, in collaboration with the University of Nusa Cendana in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, the community of astronomy lovers Of Eastern Sky Lovers (Pelati), and an amateur astronomer from Kupang, Zulkarnain.

Total lunar eclipse observations will be conducted in Bandung and Kupang and the broadcast can be watched through Bosscha observatory and Slido YouTube channels on Wednesday starting at 17.00 WIB.