A total lunar eclipse will be observable in Manila and parts of the country for about an hour on March 3, Tuesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday.
If skies are clear, the maximum eclipse, or the phenomenon’s peak, is expected at 7:34 pm, PAGASA said in an official statement.
As for the timeline, the Moon will enter totality, or the moment when it is fully covered by Earth’s shadow, at 7:04 pm, remain in the planet’s primary shadow until 8:03 pm, and fully exit the umbral shadow at 9:17 pm.
In Manila, the Moon will rise at 5:58 pm, with the partial eclipse already visible, and will remain eclipsed until it exits the penumbral shadow — the faint outer part of Earth’s shadow — at 10:25 pm.
“The total lunar eclipse is very easy to observe. A modest pair of binoculars will provide an excellent view of the Moon’s surface, but is not required,” PAGASA said in a statement.
It added that, unlike a solar eclipse, a total lunar eclipse is completely safe to observe and does not require any protective eyewear.
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth to cast a shadow onto the Moon.
“During the maximum eclipse, the umbral shadow cast by the Earth will obscure 100% of the Moon’s disk,” PAGASA said. It added that the phenomenon is also called a blood moon because it appears red due to the way Earth’s atmosphere filters and scatters sunlight.
The total lunar eclipse will also be completely visible in other regions, including Eastern Asia, Australia, the Central Pacific, and most of the Americas. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
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