Penumbral lunar eclipse early tomorrow morning
(Thai News Agency and Mirror) – The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand has prompted the public to view a penumbral lunar eclipse from 5.34 a.m. to 6.40 a.m. tomorrow morning (Feb.11) while warning that it will be difficult to see with the naked eye but visible through a telescope.
Sarun Posayachinda, the institute’s deputy director, said the penumbral lunar eclipse will take place early tomorrow morning from around 5.34 .a.m. till 9.53 a.m. Thai time with the peak being 7.43 a.m.
Even though this penumbral lunar eclipse lasts all of 4 hours and 19 minutes, as in Thailand the moon will start setting at 6.42 a.m. it will only be visible for a very short time from 5.34 a.m. to 6.40 a.m. but it will be difficult to see it with the naked eye.
According to Mirror, a penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align in an almost straight line.
When this happens, the Earth blocks some of the Sun’s light from directly reaching the Moon’s surface, and covers a part of the Moon with the outer part of its shadow – also known as the penumbra.
The rest receives the same amount of sunlight as usual, making the penumbral eclipse more difficult to observe than a total or partial eclipse.
The penumbral eclipse is due to start at 22:34 GMT on February 10, peak at 00.43 on February 11, and end at 02:53.
It will be visible from Europe, most of Asia, Africa and most of North America.
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Top: A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align. Photo: Mirror
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