abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 12/21/2010
MANILA, Philippines - For a few hours this Tuesday night, Filipinos will be able to catch a glimpse of a rare total lunar eclipse.
Based on the astronomical diary of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), “a total lunar eclipse will occur on December 21 and will be visible in the Philippines.”
A total lunar eclipse happens when the moon completely enters the earth’s umbra. The latter is the earth’s dark inner shadow.
The country, however, will only catch the ending stages of the eclipse. Only the Scandinavians will be able to see the entire event.
PAGASA said “the moon will rise at 5:36 p.m. on 21 December and will set at 6:57 A.M. on 22 December.”
The eclipse will begin at 1:29 p.m. and end at 7:04 p.m.
Space.com said “this will be the first opportunity from any place on earth to see the moon undergo a total eclipse in 34 months.”
It said the last one happened between February 20 and February 21, 2008. The eclipse was not that much noticed in the Philippines.
“In 2011, there will be two total lunar eclipses. The first, on June 15, will be visible primarily from the Eastern Hemisphere and will have an unusually long duration of totality lasting one hour and 40 minutes,” the website said.
The second one will be on December 10, 2011.
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