The same aerosols who made the spectacular sunsets after the eruption of El Chichon in 1982 also influenced the color and shading of the lunar eclipse of 6 July. Credit: Neil M. Wyatt/Wikimedia Commons
Takeaway Keyway:
The total lunar eclipse of 6 July 1982 was the longest lunar eclipse of the 20th century, with all lasting 1 hour 45 minutes 44 seconds. Visible in Australia, in the Pacific, in the Americas and West Africa, the eclipse was dramatically affected by the eruption of March-April 1982 of the volcano El Chichón, Mexico. A volcanic eruption injects dioxide of sulfur and water vapor in the stratosphere, creating a haze of sulfuric acid. This cloud can persist for years, filter sunlight, influence surface temperatures, reduce solar radiation and create unusually bright sunrises and sunsets. During the 1982 lunar eclipse, it also gave the moon a distinct aspect: the upper part and the center were darker, while the bottom was shaded in red. The considerably black aspect of the upper half of the moon suggested that volcanic aerosols were more present in the northern hemisphere.
