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Lunar Eclipse July 2018: everything you need about the longest lunar eclipse in almost a century

Get your telescopes ready: it's a cosmic whammy!
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This weekend Aussies will get partial visibility of the longest lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon, this century.

The once-in-a-lifetime show will start at 3:15 am Sydney time, July 28, with the maximum eclipse occurring at roughly 6:20 am, all in all, lasting a whopping total of one hour and 43 minutes.

Ever wondered why it’s called a blood moon?

During a lunar eclipse, the moon goes red through Rayleigh scattering of sunlight through the Earth’s atmosphere, the same force that makes sunsets appear red.

Here are some other things you might be wondering…

Look how they shine for you!

Lunar eclipse and blood moon astrology

Spiritual adviser, Rose Smith from Absolute Soul Secrets, says there are some emotional changes women, in particular, should be aware of before and after the blood moon, including emotional upheaval in relationships, plus kids and pets acting out more than usual from Saturday morning, the 28th of July.

“Women, in particular, tend to feel hurt disappointed and sad, whereas men are more likely to feel agitated, angry and aggressive,” Rose warns those in relationships.

“Children can go a little crazy around a full moon anyway, but this combination may result in them being more prone to temper tantrums and displays of disobedience.”

“Pets are also susceptible to their surroundings and have a strong connection to the earth, so expect them to be a little more unsettled than normal.”

How to photograph a lunar eclipse

Fancy yourself a bit of a photographer?

Here’s how you can capture a photo of the blood moon and lunar eclipse on July 28th.

Nikon USA reveals there are four ways to capture the moment, wide-angle, telephoto, multiple exposures and star trail. While you can also use film cameras to photograph eclipses, this article discusses specifically digital camera use. Want to know more? It’s all here.

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