A partial lunar eclipse will be visible from Earth early tomorrow morning, with the initial phases in the Saudi skies before sunrise.
Jeddah Astronomy Society Director Eng. Majed Abu Zahra said that this partial eclipse will be visible across Europe, much of Asia, Africa, North and South America, the Pacific, Atlantic, the Indian Oceans, the Arctic, and Antarctica. According to him, the eclipse will last for one hour and three minutes, from 5:12 am to 6:15 am Saudi time. It will be the only local lunar eclipse of 2024.
Abu Zahra said: “The eclipse will begin simultaneously across all regions of Saudi Arabia as the full moon enters Earth’s shadow at 5:12 am. The moon will then traverse from west to east in Earth’s shadow, following its natural orbital path.
“The eclipse will reach its maximum at 5:44 am, with 3.9% of the moon’s surface covered by Earth’s shadow. After this peak, the moon will set in conjunction with sunrise in various parts of Saudi Arabia. It may appear reddish-copper or orange during this
time, due to its proximity to the horizon and atmospheric effects, rather than the eclipse itself.”
Globally, observers will witness the moon gradually emerging from Earth’s shadow until the partial eclipse ends and the moon’s full illumination returns by 6:15 am.
Abu Zahra also said that the moon will be at perigee (the point in the moon orbit at which it is nearest to the earth) during this eclipse, which will make it appear larger. At the eclipse’s peak, the moon’s apparent diameter will be 6.7% larger than average, marking it the second supermoon of 2024.
Because it is close to the autumn equinox, it is also called harvest moon.
The partial lunar eclipse can be easily observed with the naked eye, without special equipment. However, binoculars or a small telescope can provide a clearer view of the moon’s details.
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses do not pose any risk to the eyes, so no special precautions are necessary.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
