Web desk: Stargazers across Pakistan and other regions of the world will witness the year’s first blood moon during a total lunar eclipse this weekend.
Eclipse visible across several continents
The rare celestial event will be visible on the night between September 7 and 8 in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific, including Pakistan.
What are timings of the eclipse
According to the Met Department, the eclipse will begin at 8:23pm on September 7 and reach its maximum at 11:12pm.
The event will end at 1:55am on September 8, lasting a total of five hours and 27 minutes.
SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) has, however, shared slightly different timings for Pakistan. It said the eclipse will begin locally at 8:30pm, peak at 11:57pm, and end at 1:55am.
Why it’s called a blood moon
During the total eclipse, the Earth’s shadow will completely cover the Moon, giving it a glowing red colour. This striking coppery shade, caused by Earth’s atmosphere filtering sunlight, is what earns the name “blood moon.”
SUPARCO has confirmed that the Moon will stay fully hidden in Earth’s shadow until the final hours of the night, making it a long and spectacular sight for sky-watchers.
Safe to view with naked eye
Experts have stressed that the lunar eclipse is completely safe to watch without any eye protection, unlike solar eclipses, which require safety glasses.
SUPARCO has also announced that it will share real-time images and live updates of the event on its social media accounts.
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