Total Lunar eclipse visible in US and Canada. PHOTO: Pexels
The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) Climate Data Processing Centre on Thursday confirmed that a total lunar eclipse will be visible in Pakistan on March 3.
According to a press release issued by the PMD, the eclipse will be broadly visible across East Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America, and parts of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Arctic and Antarctica. However, in Pakistan, the eclipse will be partially visible at moonrise.
The eclipse will follow a detailed timeline in Pakistan Standard Time (PST). The penumbral eclipse will begin at 13:44 PST, followed by the partial eclipse starting at 14:50 PST. The total eclipse will begin at 16:05 PST and reach its peak at 16:34 PST.
The total eclipse phase will end at 17:03 PST, with the partial eclipse concluding at 18:17 PST. Finally, the penumbral eclipse will end at 19:23 PST.
Skywatchers in Pakistan are encouraged to look towards the horizon at moonrise for an opportunity to witness this rare celestial event.
What is lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon. This celestial event can only happen during a full moon when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned in a straight line.
There are three main types of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon passes through the Earth’s umbra (the darkest part of its shadow), causing the Moon to take on a reddish hue, often referred to as a “blood moon.”
Read More: Rare ‘Blood Moon’ eclipse to dazzle Pakistan
In a partial lunar eclipse, only a portion of the Moon enters the Earth’s umbra, while the rest remains in the lighter shadow (penumbra).
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s penumbra, causing a subtle shading on the Moon’s surface.
Lunar eclipses are safe to observe with the naked eye and are spectacular astronomical events that have been observed and studied for centuries.
