Local and tourists alike take part in the spectacle.
At the invitation of the Korčula Astronomical Association, a large crowd of locals and tourists gathered at the town’s Reconciliation Square on Friday night, where they used a telescope to observe the longest lunar eclipse this century, reports Korcula.online on July 28, 2018.
Ivan Sardelić, the president of the Korčula Astronomical Association, explained what was precisely happening while the Moon was passing through the Earth's shadow. The reason why this eclipse was the longest this century was the fact that the Moon is currently at the most distant part of its orbit around Earth, so is moving a bit slower than usual. The total eclipse lasted for one hour and 43 minutes, with the most spectacular period being the one when the Moon was coloured red. The maximum eclipse occurred at 10.21 when the Moon was the middle of the Earth's shadow.
After the eclipse concluded, many remained at the Reconciliation Square where, along with other members of the association, Sardelić presented the association’s activities as well as technical aids used, including a 150 mm telescope.
The Korčula Astronomical Association was founded on 22 May 1998, shortly after the Hale-Bopp comet passed through the Solar System. The beauty and the significance of the rare visitor from the depths of the universe was a direct reason for a group of amateur astronomers to establish the association in order to help themselves and others monitor celestial events and understand the skies, said Sardelić. The association has about a hundred members, while the number of astronomy fans is much larger.
A valuable contribution to the association’s activities is provided by the fellow Korčula citizen and honorary association member Ante Radonić, a long-time director of the Planetarium at the Technical Museum in Zagreb.
The Korčula Astronomical Association dedicates most of its efforts towards young people who, through play and entertainment, very quickly master the knowledge about astronomy.
Translated from Korčula.online (reported by Niko Perić).
