16.8.2008

A partial lunar eclipse is expected on this month’s full moon Poya day at 11.53 pm on 16th August. The partial lunar eclipse occurs due to moon approaching the overhead close to midnight.

The eclipse begins at 11.53 p.m. Saturday night with the moon entering into the penumbra of the earth’s shadow (less dark shadow). The dimming on the moon light at this phase may not be noticeable to the naked eyes Dr. Chandana Jayaratne, consultant on Astronomy to the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies and Senior Lecturer in Physics, University of Colombo said.

However, the eclipse will be clearly visible to the naked eye observers from 01.06 a.m. onwards on Sunday morning and it will be visible for three hours and nine minutes till the moon leaves the Umbra at 4.15 a.m. on August 17.

The middle of the eclipse takes place at 2.40 a.m. on Sunday morning. The eclipse ends at 5.27 a.m. on the same day.

This eclipse is visible to the countries in South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. There is no harm in observing lunar eclipses with naked eyes, Dr. Jayaratne said.