Nigeria: Watch Out For Partial Lunar Eclipse Tonight
A (very) partial lunar eclipse comes our way today Friday late in the evening. The full moon will appear to get a tiny bite taken out of it as it undergoes a shallow partial eclipse today.
The Niger Times learnt that the partial eclipse would be visible in most parts of Nigeria between 10.53 p.m. today and 2.48 a.m. October 19, 2013. During the lunar eclipse today, part of the moon will skirt through only the outer edge of the earth’s shadow in what scientists call a penumbral lunar eclipse.
The experts stated in the Space.com report: “Earth’s natural satellite will pass through our planet’s faint outer shadow, known as the penumbra, on Friday, with the time of deepest eclipse occurring at 7.50 p.m. EDT (2350 GMT). The effect of such a penumbral eclipse will be subtle compared to the dramatic spectacle of a total lunar eclipse, but it’s still worth craning your neck skyward.”
Keen sky-watchers may notice that October's full moon, known traditionally as the Hunter's Moon, will lose just a bit of silvery luster tonight as part of its southern limb gradually dims. What is happening is that Earth's outer, pale shadow is falling on the outer edge of the lunar disk.
The celestial phenomenon, known officially as a penumbral lunar eclipse, may be a bit tricky to catch in the sky with the eye.
Here's what else you need to know about this lunar cover-up event:
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon align. During total lunar eclipses, the entire moon is engulfed in Earth's darkest shadow. But during partial eclipses, the moon never completely goes dark or turns red—only a portion of its disk appears to darken slightly.
"This is an eclipse where the circumstances place the moon only inside of the very light outer shadow of the Earth called the penumbra, rather than the darker inner shadow known as the umbra," said Larry Ciupik, an astronomer at Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois.
"That outer shadow cone is so light that one normally barely notices the darkening moon as the eclipse progresses."
The 2013 penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible as well throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia.
The Niger Times learnt that the partial eclipse would be visible in most parts of Nigeria between 10.53 p.m. today and 2.48 a.m. October 19, 2013. During the lunar eclipse today, part of the moon will skirt through only the outer edge of the earth’s shadow in what scientists call a penumbral lunar eclipse.
The experts stated in the Space.com report: “Earth’s natural satellite will pass through our planet’s faint outer shadow, known as the penumbra, on Friday, with the time of deepest eclipse occurring at 7.50 p.m. EDT (2350 GMT). The effect of such a penumbral eclipse will be subtle compared to the dramatic spectacle of a total lunar eclipse, but it’s still worth craning your neck skyward.”
Keen sky-watchers may notice that October's full moon, known traditionally as the Hunter's Moon, will lose just a bit of silvery luster tonight as part of its southern limb gradually dims. What is happening is that Earth's outer, pale shadow is falling on the outer edge of the lunar disk.
The celestial phenomenon, known officially as a penumbral lunar eclipse, may be a bit tricky to catch in the sky with the eye.
Here's what else you need to know about this lunar cover-up event:
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon align. During total lunar eclipses, the entire moon is engulfed in Earth's darkest shadow. But during partial eclipses, the moon never completely goes dark or turns red—only a portion of its disk appears to darken slightly.
"This is an eclipse where the circumstances place the moon only inside of the very light outer shadow of the Earth called the penumbra, rather than the darker inner shadow known as the umbra," said Larry Ciupik, an astronomer at Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois.
"That outer shadow cone is so light that one normally barely notices the darkening moon as the eclipse progresses."
The 2013 penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible as well throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Nigeria: Watch Out For Partial Lunar Eclipse Tonight
Reviewed by Msl
on
9:59 pm
Rating:
Reviewed by Msl
on
9:59 pm
Rating:
No comments: