If you’ve heard that on the night of March 2 to 3 ( Monday to Tuesday) there will be a total lunar eclipse, we have good and bad news for you. The bad news? The “Blood Moon,” which refers to the eclipse, will not be visible from Porto or anywhere else in mainland Portugal. The good news? The “Worm Moon” promises brightness and incredible photos for your Instagram feed, with the Douro River as a backdrop.
Why can’t we see the eclipse?
According to the specialized website “Star Walk,” the total lunar eclipse will “erase” the Moon and paint it red for about an hour. However, the phenomenon will only be visible in East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, North and Central America, the far west of South America, among other regions. The African and European continents will not be able to see it.
But what is the “Blood Moon” anyway?
According to the same source, this name is applied when a total lunar eclipse occurs. That is, when the moon passes completely through the Earth’s shadow (umbra) and, due to the refraction of sunlight in our atmosphere, takes on a reddish-copper hue.
Want to follow the eclipse online?
Although it is not possible to see the lunar eclipse from Portugal, you can watch it via online broadcasts. Platforms such as Time and Date and The Virtual Telescope Project will broadcast live to the whole world.
There is no “Blood Moon,” but there is an imposing Full Moon.
In Porto, as already mentioned, there is no “Blood Moon,” but even so, the spectacle ofthe “Worm Moon” (the name given to the March Full Moon) is worth watching closely.
Astronomically, the peak of the Full Moon occurs on Tuesday morning, which means that both tonight (Monday) and tomorrow night (Tuesday) are ideal for observation.
On these two nights, the Moon will appear larger and much brighter than usual, illuminating the banks of the Douro in a unique way.
Where to see the Full Moon in Porto?
Ideally, you should look for places away from light pollution or with open horizons, such as:
- Serra do Pilar Viewpoint
- Jardim do Morro
- Foz do Douro
The big event in August
Although it is not possible to embrace the phenomenon of the lunar eclipse in Invicta now, summer has a big surprise in store for Porto and Northern Portugal: a total solar eclipse on August 12. That one will leave the city in darkness in the middle of the day!
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