Longest total lunar eclipse in 11 years

Longest total lunar eclipse in 11 years

A picture shows the moon during a total lunar eclipse in Pakistan's central city of Multan on June 16, 2011. Astronomers in parts of Europe, Africa, Central Asia and Australia enjoy a total lunar eclipse today, the first of 2011 and the longest in nearly 11 years. A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth casts its shadow over the Moon. The lunar face can sometimes turn reddish, coppery-brown or orange, tinged by light from the Sun that refracts as it passes through our atmosphere. – Photo by AFP

THE moon, an object of fascination for poets, writers and romantics showed yet another of its facets on Wednesday night. As half the world watched in wonder, the silver orb quietly took refuge in the Earth’s shadow for more than one-and-a-half hours, its shades turning from silver, to red, to a darker hue.

At night and early Thursday morning, sky gazers from various parts of the eastern hemisphere feasted their eyes on the longest total eclipse in 11 years. Although, clouds continued to be an unwelcome intrusion to many people, it was nevertheless, an experience to remember.

“This was a beautiful view, and I enjoyed it tremendously,” says Khalid Marwat, a space enthusiast, “What I found especially fascinating was the seemingly crescent shape of the moon at the partial eclipse when half of the satellite was hidden behind the Earth’s shadow, since this is a scene rarely witnessed at this time of the night.”

According to Marwat, who’s followed astronomy as a hobby for the past 30 years, the crescent shape of the moon can only be seen either at dusk or dawn, and that too, at the horizon. In this respect, this indeed, was an extraordinary sight.

Urbanites were at a disadvantage, since their view was hampered by both clouds and city lights, which is why, some devotees of sky life packed their bags and headed for the open skies for a more scenic vision. Nor were they disappointed, for during total eclipse when the moon’s light was practically non-existent, stars that would normally be dimmed shone down brightly at them.


The dawn
June 16, 2011 1:30 PM EDT