After the Quadrantids Meteor Shower last January 4, the skies will once again be illuminated by another major astronomical event—the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.
Eclipses come in pairs
A solar eclipse is always paired with a lunar eclipse. A solar eclipse only happens during the new moon, while a lunar eclipse occurs during the full moon. For an eclipse to occur, the new and full moons have to take place within the eclipse season, wherein the Earth, Sun, and Moon are perfectly aligned. This happens twice a year, about six months apart.
What is a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse?
On January 11, 2020 at 1:07 a.m., the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse will be visible in the country. It occurs whenever the Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun, blocking out sunlight and casting a shadow on the Moon’s surface.
Unlike other types of eclipses, a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse is more subtle and much more difficult to observe. According to Fred Espenak, an American Astrophysicist, about 35% of all eclipses are penumbral. Another 30% are partial eclipses, while the remaining 35% are total eclipses of the moon.
Where will the Penumbral Eclipse be visible?
The eclipse will be visible in Africa, Oceania, Asia, Europe, and Northern America.
In Manila, the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse starts at 1:07 a.m., reaching its peak at 3:11 a.m. and ending at 5:12 a.m. The next eclipse for the year will be visible on June 6.
Last March 9, we were able to witness a Partial Solar Eclipse, thanks to clear skies. Tonight, it’s the moon’s turn to hold its own spectacle called the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.
For the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse to take place, a Full Moon is required. Since penumbra refers to the shaded outer region of an object, during this phenomenon, the moon’s southern portion will have a slightly darker shade. This happens when the moon passes by the penumbra of the Earth. Its visual transformation may not be as dramatic as a Total Lunar Eclipse; still, it is an astronomical event worth observing.
The Penumbral Lunar Eclipse will happen tonight from 5:37 PM until 9:57 PM with its peak at 7:47 PM here in the Philippines. It can also be seen in Northern America, some parts of Southern America, much of Asia, Australia, the Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic and Antarctica.
If you wish to witness a Total Lunar Eclipse, mark your calendars—particularly on January 31, 2018. Next year, in 2017, two lunar eclipses will occur— the Penumbral and the second Partial Lunar Eclipse.
Thought it was a unique experience to witness a Total Solar Eclipse today, March 9, 2015 at 8:59 AM 10:14 AM in the Philippines, we only experienced a Partial Solar eclipse, wherein the Sun’s surface area was covered by the Moon by up to 80%. This is because this year, the Moon is positioned in between the Sun and the Earth–a position that enabled Indonesia, on the other hand, to experience a Total Solar Eclipse.
A Total Solar Eclipse is a rare phenomenon that happens once in every 18 months, and can be seen identically after 18 years and 11 days, which is also called as “Saros Cycle.”
Here are more facts about Solar Eclipses:
• Solar eclipses have 3 types: the Partial, Annular and the Total. The Partial Eclipse doesn’t cover the Sun completely. In the Annular Eclipse, the Moon is able to block the Sun, but the solar eclipse is surrounded by a corona or “halo” because of either two things: 1) the Earth is far from the Moon, or 2) the Earth is closer to the Sun. These circumstances limit the coverage of the Moon. The Total Eclipse happens when the Moon completely obstructs the Sun. The only thing visible in this phase is a fainter solar corona.
• The Total Solar Eclipse today has a maximum time of 7 minutes and 30 seconds. But last July 16, 2000, the Pacific Ocean, Eastern Asia and Australia held the longest recorded Solar Eclipse with 106 minutes and 25 seconds. Meanwhile, the Total Solar Eclipse that happened on August 13, 1859 had the shortest recorded time with just 3 seconds.
• The Lunar Eclipse can only be seen during the Full Moon at night, while the Solar Eclipse occurs in the daytime with the New Moon.
• When there is a Total Solar Eclipse, unfortunate are those who are in the North and South Poles as only a Partial Solar Eclipse can be viewed.
• For those who did not see the Partial Solar Eclipse, the next Total Solar Eclipse can be seen in the Philippines 26 years from now! Mark your calendars on April 20, 2042!
Source(s):
http://www.space.com/30669-10-surprising-lunar-eclipse-facts.html
http://www.livescience.com/32671-whats-a-solar-eclipse.html