유럽서 20년 만에 개기일식…NASA 비행기는 왜 떴을까

A total lunar eclipse, the first in 27 years to be observed across mainland Europe, took place on December 12. This celestial event was visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the North Atlantic, Spain, and Portugal. It was particularly rare for the Iberian Peninsula, having last been seen in 1912. Similarly, Iceland hadn't witnessed a total lunar eclipse since 1954. Partial eclipses were visible in most of North America, Europe, and western Africa.

The United Kingdom and France experienced a total lunar eclipse with 90% of the moon obscured. It would be 2081 before another total lunar eclipse of this magnitude is visible from the UK. This phenomenon occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align perfectly. Despite the sun being 400 times larger in diameter and 400 times farther away, the apparent size of the sun and moon in the sky is the same, resulting in a total lunar eclipse.

However, the alignment of the Earth and moon's orbital planes is not always perfect, so not every lunar eclipse is total. Typically, a total lunar eclipse occurs every 4 years, but the exact location varies. The last total lunar eclipse visible from the Korean Peninsula was on September 2, 2035, in Pyongyang, Gangwon-do's Goseong, and some other areas. In Seoul, a partial lunar eclipse would be observable.

Total lunar eclipses are not only fascinating astronomical events, but they also provide a unique opportunity for astronomers to study the sun. During a total lunar eclipse, the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, the corona, becomes visible. This layer is typically hidden by the sun's bright light, making it impossible to observe with the naked eye.

The rare chance to study this extreme layer of the sun is particularly valuable for solar researchers. NASA took advantage of this opportunity by launching an observation aircraft to capture images and data during the eclipse.