Lunar Eclipse On May 5; The Next One Will Be in 2042

New Delhi: A lunar eclipse will be observed in some parts of the world as the Sun Moon and Earth align together. The May 5 lunar eclipse is unique since it will not repeat for nearly two decades.  The lunar eclipse will be visible in most parts of the nightside world on the day given clear sky conditions. While some places on Earth will see parts of the eclipse, others will see the full extent of the celestial phenomenon. The next penumbral eclipse will only occur in September 2042.

Also called a penumbral eclipse, it will observe the Moon moving through the faint, outer part of Earth’s shadow known as the penumbra. The penumbral lunar eclipse is difficult to observe due to the subtle dimming effect and the imperfect alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth.

Due to the imperfect alignment of the three celestial bodies, Earth blocks some of the Sun’s light from directly reaching the Moon’s surface and covers all or part of the Moon. The Earth is covered just by the outer part of the shadow known as the penumbra, which is lighter than the darker part of the shadow known as the umbra.

A lunar eclipse occurs only when there is a full moon and the Sun, Earth, and Moon are nearly aligned.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon’s surface. This alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon results in a rare and spectacular display of light and shadow, as the Moon is briefly bathed in a reddish hue during the eclipse.

Lunar eclipses can be total or partial. A partial lunar eclipse happens when a segment of the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow. During partial eclipses, Earth’s shadow frequently looks pretty dark on the side of the Moon. However, what can be seen from Earth depends on how the Sun, Earth, and Moon align.