Sri Lankans to witness rare ‘Blood Moon’ lunar eclipse Sunday night
COLOMBO – Sri Lankans will have a rare chance to witness a spectacular ‘Blood Moon’ on Sunday (7) night, as the country experiences the last total lunar eclipse of the year, according to Prof. Chandana Jayaratne, Head of the Department of Physics at the University of Colombo and Chairman of the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies.
The celestial event will see the full moon pass directly into Earth’s shadow, transforming its silvery glow into an eerie deep red for 82 minutes. The phenomenon, popularly known as a Blood Moon, will be visible across most of Asia, Australia, Europe, and Africa, with Sri Lanka expected to offer some of the clearest views if skies remain cloud-free.
“This will be a spectacular event, as every stage of the eclipse will be visible from Sri Lanka,” Prof. Jayaratne said. “The moon will gradually darken and then turn red as Earth’s shadow fully covers it.”
Key Timings for Sri Lanka
- Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 8:58 p.m.
- Partial Eclipse Begins: 9:57 p.m.
- Total Eclipse Begins: 11:01 p.m.
- Maximum Eclipse: 11:42 p.m.
- Total Eclipse Ends: 12:22 a.m. Monday (8)
- Partial Eclipse Ends: 1:26 a.m.
- Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 2:25 a.m.
The period of totality, when the moon glows its deepest red, will last for 1 hour and 22 minutes. The full eclipse cycle, from the penumbral phase to the end, will span 5 hours and 27 minutes.
Unlike a solar eclipse, the lunar eclipse is completely safe to observe with the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes. Astronomy enthusiasts are encouraged to head outdoors to locations with an unobstructed view of the eastern sky.
Globally, nearly 85% of the world’s population will be able to observe this eclipse either partially or in full, making it one of the most widely visible astronomical events of the year.
Sky-watchers in Sri Lanka are advised to look up from around 9:00 p.m. onwards for what promises to be a breathtaking natural spectacle.
-ENCL
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