First lunar eclipse of 2020 tonight

The first lunar eclipse of the year 2020 would be visible to Sri Lanka in the night of the full moon Poya day today (10), Colombo University’s Physical Science Department Prof. Chandana Jayaratne said.

He said the Lunar Eclipse will be visible to Sri Lanka till 2.42 morning (IST) on Saturday (11) starting from 10.37 pm today (IST). The full Eclipse which the moon is closest to the centre of the shadow will be at 00.40 Saturday (11)

He said the total visible duration will be four hours and five minutes.

The eclipse will also be visible in the regions of Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, most of North America, East of South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean and the Arctic, Prof. Jayaratne added.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon becomes completely immersed in the penumbral cone of the Earth without touching the umbra.

During this eclipse, the Earth's main shadow does not cover the Moon. As the Earth's shadow (umbra) misses the Moon during a penumbral lunar eclipse, there are no other locations on Earth where the Moon appears partially or totally eclipsed during this event. The lunar eclipse could be difficult to see, as the shadowed section is a trail fainter than the rest of the Moon. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)