Partial Lunar Eclipse to be Visible in the State’s Skies Tomorrow

A small partial lunar eclipse will be visible in the state’s skies before sunset tomorrow, Wednesday, marking the first phases of the eclipse.

Majid Abu Zahra, Chief Engineer of the Astronomical Society in Jeddah, explained that the partial eclipse will be visible in various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic, and Antarctica, for a duration of one hour and three minutes between 05:12 AM and 06:15 AM Saudi time.

Timing and Visibility of the Eclipse

The partial lunar eclipse will begin simultaneously in all parts of the state, with the full moon disk entering the Earth’s shadow at 05:12 AM. The moon will move from west to east, following its natural movement in its orbit around the Earth.

Thirty-two minutes after the start of the partial eclipse, it will reach its peak at 05:44 AM, with 3.9% of the moon’s surface covered by the Earth’s shadow. Although the amount of eclipse will be 9% at its peak, the Earth’s shadow is larger than the moon, allowing it to cover a larger part of the moon even if it’s not deeply immersed in the shadow.

Appearance of the Moon During the Eclipse

As the moon sets at the same time as the sun rises in various regions of the state, it may appear in a coppery red or orange color due to the Earth’s atmosphere, not the eclipse itself. This effect will be visible in many regions where the eclipse is observable.

The moon will gradually move out of the Earth’s shadow until the partial eclipse ends, and the moon’s disk returns to its normal state at 06:15 AM.

Unique Features of the Eclipse

During this partial eclipse, the moon will be at perigee, making it appear larger than usual. At the peak of the eclipse, its apparent diameter will be 6.7% larger than average.

Viewing the Eclipse

A partial lunar eclipse can be easily observed with the naked eye without special tools or equipment. However, using binoculars or a small telescope can provide a better view of the eclipse. Unlike a solar eclipse, this event does not pose any risk to the eyes and does not require safety precautions.