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THE LONGEST ‘BLOOD moon’ eclipse this century will coincide with Mars’ closest approach in 15 years tonight, to offer skygazers a thrilling astronomical double bill.
Viewers will need no protective eye gear to observe the spectacle — unlike when watching solar eclipse.
For about half the world, the moon will be partly or fully in Earth’s shadow from 6.14 pm to 12.28 am (Irish time) tomorrow morning, six hours and 14 minutes in all.
In Ireland, the eclipse will last for about 3 hours and 6 minutes, from 9.22 pm to 12.28 am.
The period of complete eclipse — known as “totality”, when the moon appears darkest — will last for just under 51 minutes in Ireland, from 9.26 pm to 10.13 pm.
In some parts of the world, totality will last for 103 minutes, making it the longest eclipse of the 21st century
Unfortunately, clouds in some parts of Ireland could hurt the chances of seeing the phenomenon.
Blood Moon
A total lunar eclipse happens when Earth takes position in a straight line between the moon and sun, blotting out the direct sunlight that normally makes our satellite glow whitish-yellow.
The moon travels to a similar position every month, but the tilt of its orbit means it normally passes above or below the Earth’s shadow — so most months we have a full moon without an eclipse.
When the three celestial bodies are perfectly lined up, however, the Earth’s atmosphere scatters blue light from the sun while refracting or bending red light onto the moon, usually giving it a rosy blush.
This is what gives the phenomenon the name “blood moon”, though Mark Bailey of the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland said the colour can vary greatly.
It depends partly on “how cloudy or transparent those parts of the Earth’s atmosphere are which enable sunlight to reach the moon”, he told AFP.
“During a very dark eclipse the moon may be almost invisible.
“Less dark eclipses may show the moon as dark grey or brown… as rust-coloured, brick-red, or, if very bright, copper-red or orange.”
The long duration of this eclipse is partly due to the fact that the moon will make a near-central passage through Earth’s umbra — the darkest, most central part of the shadow.
Our constant companion will also be at the farthest point on its orbit from Earth, making its movement across the sky slower from our perspective, thus spending longer in the dark.
Mars
At the same time, Mars will hover near the moon in the night sky, easily visible with the naked eye.
Our neighbouring planet will appear unusually large and bright, a mere 57.7 million kilometres from Earth on its elliptical orbit around the sun.
“We have a rare and interesting conjunction of phenomena,” said Pascal Descamps, an astronomer with the Paris Observatory.
“We should have a coppery red tint on the moon with Mars the ‘Red Planet’ just next to it, very bright and with a slight orange hue itself.”
© – AFP 2018 with reporting by Rónán Duffy
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I think the fact she was a palliative care nurse says it all.
Apparently the clinic are giving a two for one discount next week.
She was 72 too, not exactly a spring chicken.
would this void her life insurance/assurance?
@Lily. You would not say that if you were 62 !
Her age is not the point…she was healthy. Personally I totally agreed with euthanasia but I struggle to understand why one would do that while healthy, husband/partner still alive, kids and possibly grandchildren?
Look when im old, I’ll admit im old. age doesn’t bother me. She had 72 good years and made her choice, its not like she was 20 with her whole life ahead of her. I don’t know what choice I would make, I hope I am lucky enough to live to 72 but I really have no desire to life past 100 where all my friends will be dead and possibly my kids too. I just hope I go before my kids. Perhaps that was her fear too.
Yes but obviously if she did this on a considered basis (as required by Dignitas) she would not have been paying life insurance premia.
I think she was crazy. If she was healthy then she should have stuck around. We have a duty to our loved ones to stick around. We may all be physically separate entities but we are psychologically and emotionally entangled.
Her life, her choice.
This is probably wrong, considering she was healthy and given the fact that by law, any person with sound state of mind has a choice to refuse the treatment in any illness (so she could have done this to avoid being burden on health service or family if ill)
vaibhav , if she did become ill then yes she could’ve refused treatment , you are correct there but then she would still need care from her family and health services which I guess she wanted to avoid . her decision but I think it was a wrong one to make
yup, but no one can predict when one gets ill, she could have lived/outlived family members and probably could have gotten the chance to care for them instead. Infinite possibilities..
So she would rather break her family’s heart than be a burden on the health system.. Sounds strange to me.. I don’t how I would justify that to my loved ones
How do we know she wasn’t coerced? She seems to have believed that her life was not worthy. Maybe this was a result of an abusive relationship in which she was constantly told she was worthless. Did dignitas investigate this?
I know it’s all speculation, but so are all the comments supporting this action.
Her choice AM. I mean we are at a stage now where we are free to decide who we want in our lives and when we want to end it. Be it 17 weeks or 75 years, we now can choose. x
The brave husband drove through hurricanes tornadoes and natural disasters to get her there on time.
He was on time for the first time in his life bystanders said…. lol
Speaking from Las Vegas, the distraught husband with his twenty something companion in toe said he would try and move on.
Maybe doogle. But the information provided stated that her reason was that she didn’t want to be a burden. She was perfectly healthy . Why do perfectly healthy people feel they’re a burden on society? If she had said that she’d lived long enough and done what she wanted in life, I would have thought, ok, a bit selfish, but …. However when a person decides to take their life because they feel they are a burden, there could well be other issues involved.
Obviously none of us knows the whole story. So, the ‘it was her choice’ narrative is as speculative as mine.
Asked whether or not his wife was a burden, the husband said that of course his beloved was not, but is just glad its all over now and there is peace.
Her choice. Her husband didn’t sway her but a book on negotiation and persuading people was found on his bedside locker. A burden AM? Her choice. it’s free choice these days. Sure you have 26 week old peps who are a burden and their disposed of.
According to other news reports, there is a spike in inquiries from husbands around Europe for leaflets and information. The clinic are reporting a ‘brisk’ trade on bookings.
It may be your view Suzie that it was a wrong decision to make, but then what would you do if it was your elderly mother perhaps unconscious for weeks and months in hospital after a stroke and being fed through a peg in her stomach. What would you do if the doctors told you that she will probably never regain consciousness and then phoned you one day to say that your mother had pulled out the peg on more than one occasion. Would you force her to stay alive or would you let her die as it appeared her wish.
@chris – what you do if you were asked to give up your dreams for freedom?
Thankyou SY, the example I gave above was my mother.
Chris , in very sorry to hear about your mam , I watched my father die and he fought right up until his last breath to live . I wouldn’t wish it on anyone to have to go through it . this situation is different though , she was healthy and she could’ve had at least another 10 years in her . u don’t agree with what she did at all .
Well Suzie, I can’t answer that because every situation is different and hugely personal to individual circumstances. In a perfect world I wouldn’t want to make a choice, but one never really knows until it happens to someone close to you that perhaps a happy release is better for everyone concerned. Thinking back to my own situation I feel that we did the right thing in letting go.
Chris , we also told my father that it was OK to go but I have to say , going through what he went through I would fully support a decision that this woman took but not when you’re healthy
marty. ….Well put
“Her life, her choice.”!!!
It’s hard to get more simplistic and shallow than that!
Suicide prevention is an urgent concern in this country (and rightly so).
Yet “assisted” suicide seems to be accepted by many as worthy of support???
Seems to me that rationality is one of the first casualties in this debate!
Why not wait if perfectly healthy? Surely being healthy and having a loving family is better than dying prematurely? Very strange decision, but we probably only have half the story.
The husband was very supportive in her decision.
Her husband fully understood and respected her decision. He was unavailable for comment but a close friend says he is trying to live his life to the full
She has probably seen people grow old and it scared her. They lose their senses, their physical ability. Their families dump them in homes and hospitals and rarely visit them. No one takes them seriously and in some cases they get treated horrendously. They are at the mercy of every crook and conman and the only time they see their family is when they are checking on their inheritance. She was a realist and knew that the western world is a lonely and scary place to be old.
Maybe he’s going to inherit the family fortune now.
@John Michael. Its true. Its gas looking at families wandering around Nursing Homes on Christmas Eve pretending they know which room Granny is in. Its the only day of the year when the car park is full !
I lost my mam to suicide a few years ago. I don’t agree with this at all. The fact that someone thinks they will become a burden on society and others is a sad reflection on a broken society. I’d never want anyone to feel this way or help facilitate someone else to do this. My mother made her decision and followed through on it herself and I love her and forgive her but I would hate for someone to pressure me into helping them with this. Please please please talk to someone first before doing anything like this, you just don’t know how important you are to someone out there. There are lots of helplines and people to go to. It’s never the answer!
I’d never consider it for myself even if I were terminal… But that’s my call to make. You never know what’s going through somebody’s mind and if she didn’t have that choice would she have committed suicide instead?
She did die by suicide. Just in an institution.
pokey….Have you walked in your mum’s shoes? …….Do you know what is like to hate living? …..Or feel no pleasure in anything? ….Your mom wasn’t being selfish. ..She was probably being true to her own wants for the first time in years. We don’t want all to continue living because the choice not to would inconvenience so called loved ones
On an individual level I believe this was an altruistic, well intentioned deed – though I can’t agree with it. I didn’t realise Dignitas facilitated healthy people in ending their lives and I condemn them for that.
She decided to die by suicide. She did it in a very public way asking her family and friends to be ok with it, both personally and in public. So it may be her decision but it did affect, hurt and bereave others. It asked a huge amount from those who loved her, in the name of sparing them and herself pain.
I get that it’s a personal choice but it is never just about the person who dies. Others carry their pain afterwards.
Surely every person owns their own life
@Richard. Would you give the same advice to a 17 year old who feels they’re currently a burden on their family and society?
Life is there to be loved, cherished and enjoyed. I see no problem with people who are terminally ill, and suffering in severe pain because of it, utilising euthanasia. Only in those circumstances though
Sorry Todd but you can deny a perfectly healthy young person the right to die.
We’re not talking about 17yr olds. Suicide in that age group is a very serious issue.
I dont think you can compare the two.
Your right Gerry, apparently 53 is the cut off point.
Anne: Then you’re dictating their choice by forcefully keeping them alive. Euthanasia doesn’t merely cover sick people. It’s also for people seeking to end their life (which they have a right to do).
Reg, why is age the measure of health all of a sudden?
I disagree Richard. We are all each other.
So she choose to end her otherwise healthy life for economic reasons, seems reasonable.WTF were the individuals thinking that facilitated this?
Freedom of choice Norm.
Just as you choose to be an @## hole, but I fully support your choice.; )
? That’s the roids talking
No just my opinion, right up there with personal choice.Don’t take ‘roids bad for the body.
Where did that little outburst come from? Anyway, it’s a person’s choice to end their life like in this instance.
A summation of the idiocy I have seen you post on this site today, including this article.Now you have good one.; )
You were nicer when you where chubby Norm. You idiot.
Interesting name you choose to post under ‘Emma’.Once an a## hole always an a## hole. lol.
I see you have been outed as both Reg/Jane aswell.Hope the young girl who’s picture you lifted is ok about it.
75 is too young, if you’re in good health, to be considering this. I have parents and other relatives in their late 70s and 80s that are vital people, enjoying their lives. I hope this lady reconsiders.
The woman is dead
Damn. Missed that bit.
She might reconsider yet Daisy baby. They reckon her husband was right behind her decision. I’m all for it. Pro choice for all!
Do you always reply first and read the post second?
It’s her life. ..nobody else’s. …If she wants out she’s being unselfish to others who probably dont give a toss anyway
I am all for euthanasia if someone is terminally ill or has no quality of life. I think in many years to come it will be common practice too. I don’t understand how a healthy person could make that decision for herself but I’d assume what she has seem in her line of work has greatly influenced her decision.
Nobody can safely assume she was “influenced” by her line of work.
Her choice and hers alone. She went on her own terms, being a palliative nurse she most likely saw others suffering terribly and wanted none of it.
Euthanasia when healthy or ill must be an issue that will confront societies in the West as the baby boomers get older. I think laws in many Western countries will – and should – change to facilitate euthanasia to some degree.
I fully support assisted suicide but only in the circumstances of terminally ill or chronic pain where medication could not assist. If we go down the road of allowing assisted suicide for people who are burdens of the state we begin to look at people on the dole and others that do not contribute to the economy. A bit of a stretch but that’s where it could end up.
they you’re dictating their choice.
Want to try that again?
Why dont they just call it assisted suicide.useing a medical term does not make it sound any better
what the hell type of poll is this??
the social and cultural engineering is being laid on thick and fast lately.
right now young kids in school are being brain washed that they are destroying the planet, brainwashed about sexuality etc. its not impossible to see a 17 year old after years of indoctrination being convinced they would be better off dead…………and then there will be calls to allow euthanasia in that case.
the topic of euthanasia is a tricky one…………….its 1 thing if someone is terminally ill and in constant pain but its a different matter if a person is healthy yet somehow disturbed.
that person needs help………..not euthanasia.
100% john. Few see the real intent behind this kind of poll.
There are plenty of healthy, happy and active people out there at 75. So if you retire at 66 you have like 9 years before you become a burden??
That’s very disturbing … Could pave the way for unscrupulous relatives of vulnerable elderly people …
Absolutely outrageous thing to do. Utterly selfish action dressed up as not wanting to be a burden. Imagine being married to a healthy woman and she’d rather die than be with you.
The liberal will not end until every sacred bastion is not only turned on its head, but utterly destroyed
A little extreme in this case if she was going well, however , if this were going down hill I would prefer to move on swiftly and without the trauma of a prolonged ending.
Supporting euthanasia is the same as supporting suicide. All life is precious and no one has the right to decide to take it away.
Who are you to decide if someone can end their life or not?
LIKE ABORTION AS WELL?
What a load of religious tosh
Welcome to the Brave New World!
I believe it’s called suicide.
gripping subject but pointless poll!! the option of if I was terminally ill is redundant since the question asks would you chose euthanasia if healthy!!! you can’t be both!!!.
Fair play to her. She lived her life. The way some families act to keep elderly relations alive for as long as is medically possible is a disgrace. I don’t want anyone wiping my ***. Personally I would much prefer the money to be spent on sick children.
I am also a nurse in a similar job. The Journal question is misleading. This lady was not healthy, ok,she did not have a terminal illness but her quality of life through other illnesses and pain had deteriorated and she did not want to become housebound and wait for the inevitable to occur. She wanted to take control and plan her own death. That we should have to leave that in the hands of others is no longer acceptable to me. One very brave lady
Perhaps she knew something the rest of the family didn’t, it’s a hard call to make for someone who is sound of mind and body. Suicides usually have some impetus to do what they do but to make a rational decision to do this goes against the natural way of things.
Its one thing if you are suffering from a gruesome disease, with no chance of recovery but if your in good health it is a bad idea that would only encourage heartless relatives to nag you until you feel you have no choice but to jump into the arms of that Grim Reaper shyster, whom we will all meet one day, but why rush it if you are in good health.
I THINK IF HER FAMILY WERE A LITTLE MORE LOVING THEN SHE MIGHTN’T HAVE CHOSEN THAT?
If I No longer want to be here No one will stop me from leaving
Another idiotic neo-libtard idea.
Murdering people because they need help in their old age.
What’s next?
Glanbia proposes to reprocess the “waste”?
I would disagree that she was “healthy”. In my honest opinion and with the greatest of respect to the lady and her family, I think that she must have had mental issues.
Isn’t that really just suicide?
Colm You can also die with dignity
Bollocks to “dignity”. Let that German doctor who did live dissection a few years back dissect me on live TV. If one person watching my body get sliced is inspired to become a doctor & save lives, then that is a far higher dignity.
Dignity? Cowardice more like.
No. If I know I’m to die, I will die fighting. An enemy, an illness, if by my death others may live or doctors can cure others, then that’s how I go.
We are all going to die one day. You can die crying or die fighting. Your choice.
You live your life as you see fit
let her end hers as she sees fit to
have your say