Hyderabad: The year's first Penumbral lunar eclipse will occur on May 5, and it will be visible to a greater population around the globe. As Earth is a larger body than the Moon, a larger shadow gets cast, and lunar eclipses are viewable in more portions of the globe than solar eclipses. The May 5 eclipse is supposed to be observable in most parts of Asia, Russia, Antarctica, Oceania and Africa if the moon is visible throughout the eclipse. This event can be witnessed by individuals in India.
The Penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon travels into the Penumbra, the outer, lighter area of the Earth's shadow. The Earth seems to obscure the Sun's disk partially at the Penumbra. Therefore, the Moon is partially illuminated but appears dimmer due to receiving less sunlight during the eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse is difficult to observe due to its subtle dimming effect. The eclipse can be witnessed during the period between 8:45 PM IST on May 5th and 1:02 AM IST on May 6, as the Moon moves through the Earth's shadow.
Also read: Astronomers detect a star-devouring planet, hinting at the fate of Earth
Asia, Africa, Australia, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, Antarctica, the Indian Ocean and most of Europe will be able to witness the Penumbral Eclipse on May 5. Cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Mathura, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Ooty, Chandigarh, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohima, and other regions in India will be able to witness this astronomical event.
The Maximum Eclipse will occur at 10:52 PM on May 5. New Delhi, Mumbai, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Patna, Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Ranchi, Imphal, and Itanagar cities can witness the eclipse on May 5 from 8:44 PM to 1:01 AM on May 6. The Penumbral Lunar eclipse is difficult to notice without keen observation as it has a faint impact on the Moon. Luna eclipses are safe to observe directly with the naked eye, and using tools such as a telescope or binoculars makes it easier to observe the eclipse.
