*Note this story is in Tagalog
Magaganap lang ang isang lunar eclipse kapag bilog ang buwan at kapag dadaan ito sa anino ng mundo, o ng Earth.
Sa tatlong klase ng lunar eclipse ang pinakanakakahanga ay ang total lunar eclipse. Nangyayari ito kapag dumadaan ang bilog na buwan sa umbral shadow ng Earth. 35-porsiyento lang ng eclipse ang mabibilang sa total lunar eclipse. Nagaganap ang mga lunar eclipse ng ilang beses sa isang taon.
Sa isang total lunar eclipse, nararating pa rin ng sinag ng araw ang buwan. Kinakailangan munang dumaan ng sinag ng araw sa atmosphere ng Earth na nagsasala sa karamihan ng kulay asul at nag-iiwan ng mapusyaw na pula o orange. Tumatagos ang pulang ilaw na to sa atmosphere ng Earth at tumatama sa buwan. Eto ang dahilan kung bakit ang total lunar eclipse ay kadalasan tinatawag na blood moon.
Yan ang sabi nila.
Maglabas ka ng telescope at tignan mo sa sarili mo. Tignan mo kung pano nagbibigay daan ang mga bituin kapag nagkakaroon ng eclipse. Kung paano tila nawawala ang galaw ng ilaw na para bang may ibang tinatamaan ito.
Kung sinuswerte ka, pwede mong makita yung bihirang mga ilaw na orange at dilaw na gumagalaw bilang malalaking bilog. Makikita mo silang gumagalaw at umiikot na tila pazig-zag papunta sa buwan. Kapag nagsimula na ang eclipse makikita mong titigil ang mga bilog na ilaw at mananatiling walang kibo sa kabuuan ng eclipse. Mapapansin mo na palalim nang palalim ang kulay na pula at hindi mo mapipigilan ang sarili mo na tumitig.
Mararamdaman mo na parang nangyari na ‘to. Na parang nakita mo na ‘tong eksaktong eksen na ‘to nang isang daang ulit na. Kikilabutan ka at matatakot ka nang di mo alam ang dahilan. Maiisip mo, ang OA naman natatakot ako, eclipse lang naman to.
Pero mag-ingat ka na hindi mo maitapat yung telescope mo sa taas ng buwan.
Baka may makita kang nakatingin pabalik sa yo.
English Version
A lunar eclipse can only occur at full moon and only if the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow.
Of the three kinds of lunar eclipses a total lunar eclipse is the most striking. Supposedly it is when the whole moon passes through Earth’s umbral shadow. Only 35% of eclipses are total lunar eclipses. Lunar eclipses occur a few times per year.
During a total lunar eclipse indirect sunlight can still reach the moon. That sunlight has to first pass the Earth’s atmosphere which filters out most blue colored light leaving a bright red or orange glow. This red light refracts through Earth’s atmosphere and illuminates the moon. This is why a total lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a ‘Blood Moon’
Or so they say.
Take a telescope out during a Blood Moon and see for yourself. See how the stars seem to move out of the way when the eclipse occurs. How the movement of the light seems to flicker and fade almost as if there’s something else that the light is reflecting on.
If you’re lucky you might see the small bits of orange and yellow light move around in big dots. You’ll see them twist in a zig-zag pattern toward the moon. When the eclipse starts you might see the light dots stop and stay stationary for the whole duration of the eclipse. You’ll see the red light grow deeper and deeper and you won’t be able to look away.
There will be a feeling of déjà vu. Like you’ve seen this moment happen a hundred times before. You’ll feel a deep chill in your spine and for some reason you’ll be scared. You’ll think that’s ridiculous, it’s only an eclipse.
But be careful not to point your telescope directly above the Blood Moon.
You might see something looking back.
*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog Translation by Ghost Kendrick
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Ghost Kendrick
Story inspired by Laho description in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.
Laho Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen
Watercolor by Nicole Chiu
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