Partial lunar eclipse to be witnessed in Oman

Muscat: A partial lunar eclipse will be visible in the Sultanate on Monday evening, officials announced.
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The Astronomical Society of Oman confirmed that the skies of the Sultanate and the Arab world will witness a partial lunar eclipse on August 7.
Suleiman Hilal Al Busaidi, head of the Astronomical Observatory Committee at the Oman Astronomical Society, said the eclipse will occur for a period of one hour and 55 minutes.
“The sub-shadow eclipse will begin at 7:50 pm, and the partial eclipse will start at 9:23 pm. The peak of the eclipse will be between 10:21 pm and 11:18 pm. The end of the eclipse will be at 12:51 am on August 8, after midnight,” he explained.
“22 per cent of the southern tip of the moon will be hidden by the Earth’s shadow, and residents of Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand will be able to see it,” he added.
Al Busaidi also explained that a lunar eclipse is usually followed or preceded by a solar eclipse within a two week margin.
“There will be a total solar eclipse on August 21, which will not be seen in the Sultanate. It will be visible in North and Central America, and the northern parts of South America,” he said.
According to Al Busaidi, a lunar eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when the Earth’s shadow obscures the reflected sunlight from the Moon. This phenomenon occurs when the Earth, the Sun and the Moon are in alignment.
Al Busaidi also explained that the most prominent feature of this astronomical event is the possibility of seeing it without the need for any astronomical equipment, such as a telescope.
“The eclipse will appear clearly in the sky to the naked eye, and will not harm the eyesight. This is unlike solar eclipses, which require special glasses to be worn in order to protect the eyes from damage.”
“This rare event will adorn the skies of the Sultanate with its reddish light, and I hope it encourages amateur photographers and those interested in astronomy to document this event,” he added.
The Oman Astronomical Society will host a public event to witness the lunar eclipse, open to all of Oman’s residents and citizens at the Society’s headquarters located on Airport Heights.