*皆既月食はどんな時に起きるのか？
皆既月食は、地球が太陽と月の間に入り、地球の影が月にかかるときに起こります。月は太陽の光を反射して光っていますが、地球が光をさえぎるため暗くなります。ただし、完全に消えるわけではなく、赤っぽく見えます。これは、地球の大気を通るときに青い光が散らされ、赤い光だけが月に届くからです。そのため皆既月食の月は「赤い月」と呼ばれます。2026年3月3日は20時頃から皆既月食が見られます。空を見上げて宇宙の不思議を体感してみましょう。
*When Does a Total Lunar Eclipse Occur?
A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth’s shadow to fall across the Moon. The Moon normally shines by reflecting sunlight, but during an eclipse, that light is blocked by Earth, making the Moon appear dark. However, it does not disappear completely. Instead, the Moon often takes on a reddish color. This happens because, as sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, blue light is scattered in all directions, while red light travels through more easily and reaches the Moon. As a result, the eclipsed Moon glows faintly red, which is why a total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a “Red Moon.”
On March 3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse will be visible starting around 8:00 p.m. Take a moment to look up at the night sky and experience one of the quiet wonders of the universe.
