A total lunar eclipse is in menu tonight. Actually it happens on the morning of May 5, 2004. Lunar Eclipse happens when moon slips into the shadow casted by Earth and becomes dark. During Totality (when moon is completely shadowed by Earth), moon takes on dark copper red color, a spectacular celestial phenomenon. Here are timings with respect to Pakistan Standard Time (PST) when you can view the different phases of this Eclipse. Beware its full moon tonight !
May 4, 2004 - 10:51 PM--- Moon starts to slip into Earth's shadow. In astronomical term this phase is called "Entering Penumbra". It may not be very noticeable. It gets really prominent in Half an Hour's time.
May 4, 2004 - 11:48 PM--- Partial Eclipse starts. You'll see that one half of moon has turned noticeably darker.
May 5, 2004 - 12:52 AM-- Total Eclipse Begins. This phase is called Totality. Moon completely is veiled by Earth's shadow. Its color will be copper red. During totality, moon's brightness drops several hundred times. Even less than that of Venus. Moon will remain in total eclipse till 2:08 AM.
May 5, 2004 - 3:12 AM-- Moon starts to recover its brightness and slowly regains all of its brightness, the end of Eclipse. :)
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Pakistan Science and Engineering Forum (R)
"Kindling the Flame of Science in Pakistan (TM)"
PakSEF (TM) Daily Science News Update
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