Today, the night sky reserves a fascinating spectacle for us. A partial lunar eclipse is scheduled during October full moon, with hours ranging from 21.30pm to 23.00pm. Only 10% of the lunar surface will be affected by this event, which may make it less noticeable to most observers. Some might even mistake the eclipse for the dimming caused by a supposed cloud in the southeastern part of the Moon. But for the astronomy enthusiasts, there is more behind this eclipse.
Lunar Eclipse, what to know
Astrophysicist Romano Serra explains that the shadow of the Earth projected on the Moon is a means of measuring the distance between the two celestial bodies. By photographing the eclipse, it is possible to graphically construct the dimensions of the circle of the Earth's shadow, which can contain 2 to 3 times the size of the Moon itself. This method was used by Aristarchus of Samos about 2.250 years ago to estimate the distance to the Moon. Today, we can repeat the same operation thanks to this information.
However, aside from the eclipse, astrophysicist Serra suggests that there is something even more intriguing to observe tonight: the planets Saturn and Jupiter. Saturn will be in the meridian at 21pm, while Jupiter will be slightly to the left of the Moon, about 10 degrees away. Jupiter will appear very bright, and if you have binoculars available, you will be able to spot the four Medici satellites discovered by Galileo, together with a fainter but visible star called HD 16150, belonging to the constellation of Taurus. This evening it will seem that Jupiter has five satellites, a real spectacle for the astronomy enthusiasts.
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