The moon isn't hidden by the darkness today, as was initially expected.

The night sky over Germany is set to light up with a spectacular event on December 31, 2028, as a total lunar eclipse is scheduled to take place. This celestial spectacle, while not as thrilling for scientists, can ignite a passion for astronomy among the general public.

During a total lunar eclipse, the moon moves through the Earth's shadow, causing it to darken and take on a reddish hue. This phenomenon is a result of the bending of sunlight by the Earth's atmosphere, with the short-wave blue part of the sunlight being weakened by scattering.

The totality of the lunar eclipse is expected to begin around 19:30, with the moon entering the Earth's umbra, its darkest part, around an hour later. The exact timing may vary slightly depending on your location in Germany. For instance, in Berlin, the moonrise is at 19:37, while in Munich it's at 19:40, Hamburg at 19:52, and Cologne at 20:01.

The further east you are in Germany, the earlier the moon rises during the eclipse. The moon's surface temporarily enters the Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse, causing it to appear darker than usual. However, it's important to note that the moon's surface does not actually change colour; it's just the way it appears to us on Earth due to the shadow.

The full moon emerges from the Earth's umbra at around 21:57, signalling the end of the total lunar eclipse. The Earth, moon, and sun are almost in a line during a lunar eclipse, with the Earth casting its shadow between the Sun and the Moon. This understanding of the lunar eclipse phenomenon was developed over time, replacing earlier mythological interpretations with scientific ones based on the Earth's shadow geometry and atmospheric effects such as Rayleigh scattering, named after John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh.

Intriguingly, astronauts on the Moon would experience a solar eclipse caused by Earth during a lunar eclipse on Earth.

Before 2028, there's another opportunity to witness a lunar eclipse from Germany. On August 28, 2023, a partial lunar eclipse can be observed, but one would have to wake up very early in the morning – around 4:30 AM.

For those in America and Asia, the next total lunar eclipse is scheduled for March 3, 2026.

Stargazers, mark your calendars! These celestial events offer a mesmerising glimpse into the cosmos, reminding us of our place in the universe.

The moon isn't hidden by the darkness today, as was initially expected.