A tip for astronomy enthusiasts and nature lovers: make a note of the night of May 15/16 in your diary and set your alarm clock. From 3:32 a.m. until its peak at 6:11 a.m., the German sky will be darkened by a total lunar eclipse.
And not just darken: At some point, the moon will be completely red in color, a phase known as the “blood moon.” This celestial body will not emerge from the darkness until around 9 a.m. German time.
It is the first time since 2019 that such a natural phenomenon has taken place, and it will not be the only time this year: a second lunar eclipse will take place on November 8. But how can it be explained?

The phenomenon of a total lunar eclipse
Specifically, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon enters the Earth’s shadow. This can only happen when the sun, earth and moon are exactly or very closely aligned, with the earth between the other two, and only on the night of a full moon. In contrast to a partial eclipse, the celestial body “disappears” in its entirety during a total eclipse.
But why the reddish color? It is the same principle as for sunsets and sunrises: The earth prevents direct sunlight from reaching the moon, and the only light that is reflected back to us from the moon’s surface is refracted by the earth’s atmosphere.
This means that the moon will disappear into the Earth’s shadow on the night of May 15/16 and will be adorned with beautiful copper hues. Although this constellation of planets occurs twice a year, the astrological phenomenon has not been seen in the German sky since 2019. And although this eclipse will be visible to the naked eye, it’s definitely worth using binoculars and telescopes to get a closer look at the beauty.
In any case, it’s worth getting up early for this rare natural phenomenon – or staying up late into the night.