Eclipse of the moon this Monday, 9 Feb 2009

Malaysians will get the chance to observe a penumbral eclipse of the moon for four hours on Monday, 9 February 2009 starting from 8.39pm, said the National Space Agency (Angkasa).

In a statement, the agency said that the phenomenon would be easily visible as 89.9% of the moon’s disc would be in the shadow of the earth’s penumbra.

In general, lunar eclipse occurs when Moon passes Earth’s shadow during full Moon as shown in Diagram 1. On the 9 February, eclipse will be easily visible to the naked eye as 89.9% of the Moon’s disk is immersed in the penumbra.

The eclipse will begin at 8:39 p.m. when the Moon starts passing the penumbral shadow of the Earth (P1). The maximum phase occurs at 10:38 p.m. And the Moon will totally leave penumbral shadow (P4) at 00:38 a.m. in the following day.

However, most observers will not be able to visually detect the eclipse at the beginning and the ending of the eclipse until about 2/3 of the Moon’s disk is immersed in the penumbral shadow. This would put the period of eclipse visibility from approximately 10:00 p.m. to 11:20 p.m.

Residents in Alaska, Hawaii, Australia and East Asia will have the opportunity to observe Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. Residents in Western Canada and the Northern USA have the best views with moonset occurring sometime after maximum eclipse.

Phases of Penumbral Lunar Eclipse :
P1 - Moon start passing “Penumbra” - 08:39 pm
Maksimum - Moon partially blocked by “Penumbra" - 10:38 pm
P4 - Moon start leaving “Penumbra” - 12:38 am

In conjuction with Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, National Space Agency (ANGKASA) will organize a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Observation Program at the National Planetarium Kuala Lumpur on 9 February 2009 from 8:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Meanwhile for those who are not be to attend the observation program, please watch the live web cast Penumbral Lunar Eclipse 8:30 p.m. to 12:00a.m. on 9 February 2009 at http://www.angkasa.gov.my