First lunar eclipse of this year visible tonight at moonrise

The first lunar eclipse of this year will be visible to many parts of the world including Sri Lanka on today (on the Vesak Full Moon day), Prof. Chandana Jayaratne of the Department of Physics, Colombo University said.

He said the lunar eclipse will be visible as a total lunar eclipse from 2:17 pm and last till 7:19 pm Sri Lanka Standard time when the shadow of the Earth falls on the Moon, said.   

"This is the first total lunar eclipse since 2019 and is famously known as the Super Flower Blood Moon. While the eclipse is visible as a total eclipse to regions like Australia, parts of the western US, western Latin America, South-East Asia and Sri Lanka. 

It will be visible as a penumbral lunar eclipse. The true maximum point of this eclipse cannot be seen in Colombo because the Moon is below the horizon at that time," he said.

The moon will rise from the eastern horizon at 6.23 pm today and from that time onwards till the end of eclipse till 7.20 pm. 

The locals can see the moon when it is in the less dark shadow of the earth (penumbra) as a penumbral lunar eclipse with little dimming of the moon’s brightness, Prof. Jayaratne said.

Since the Moon is near the horizon at this time, it is better to select a high point or finding an unobstructed area with free sight to East-southeast for the best view of the eclipse, he said.

"A solar eclipse always occurs about two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse. Accordingly, there will be a ring of fire annular solar eclipse due on June 10 when the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth. But this eclipse will not be visible in Sri Lanka," Prof. Jayaratne added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)