Here is a celestial treat for sky gazers in North and South America. The Americans are going to witness this year’s first lunar eclipse on next Tuesday when the moon will be eclipsed by Earth’s shadow.
According to the scientists, the total lunar eclipse will be visible across the Western Hemisphere. The celestial event will begin at 12:06 a.m. (Arizona time) and last for 78 minutes, i.e.it will end at 1:24 a.m.
The moon will be rising in the western Pacific. Therefore, the region can only witness half of the eclipse. European and Africans may face disappointment as the moon has nothing to offer for them.
During the eclipse, the moon is covered by the Earth’s shadow. But it appears a bit colorful with some shade of red or orange. The colour of the moon during the eclipse is due to the light around the edges of the Earth.
On April 29, the Southern Hemisphere will be treated to a rare type of solar eclipse.
Scientists have predicted four eclipses this year, two lunar and two solar.
The coming lunar eclipse may pose threat to NASA spacecraft, LADEE, that has been circling the moon, probing the lunar surface. But scientists are not in great worry as the mission approaches end.