The alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth will result in the appearance of a second celestial phenomenon, days after a solar eclipse was observed in portions of the world. This occurrence is a lunar eclipse.
The Lunar eclipse will occur on May 5 as the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, preventing sunlight from reaching the Moon and casting a massive shadow on the natural satellite. The eclipse will be penumbral in nature and will not occur again for at least twenty years. Lunar eclipses can be total or partial.
A partial lunar eclipse occurs when a portion of the Moon travels through the shadow of the Earth. During partial eclipses, the Earth’s shadow often appears quite dark on the Moon. However, visibility depends on how the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned.
WHAT is the PENUMBROUS LUNAR ECLIPSE?
A penumbral lunar eclipse is an uncommon occurrence caused by the Moon passing through the faint outer portion of the Earth’s shadow, known as the penumbra.
Due to the imperfect alignment of the three celestial bodies, the Earth inhibits some of the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon’s surface directly and covers all or a portion of the Moon.
For a lunar eclipse to occur, two conditions are essential. First, a full moon must be present, and then the Sun, Earth, and Moon must be approximately aligned.
During the lunar eclipse, Earth’s shadow, also known as the umbra, will bypass the Moon in a number of regions of the United States. Due to the subtle dimming effect and the imperfect alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, however, the penumbral lunar eclipse is a bit difficult to observe.