Malaysia’s skies are about to put on a show as a total lunar eclipse, or “blood moon,” will be visible nationwide from Sunday night into early Monday morning!
According to the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA), the spectacle will run for over five hours, starting at 11:28 PM on September 7 and wrapping up at 4:55 AM on September 8, with the peak happening at 2:11 AM.
“The moon will glow reddish-orange”
MYSA explained that a lunar eclipse happens when the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow over the moon’s surface.
This eclipse will take place just 2.7 days before the moon reaches its closest point to Earth (perigee) at 364,773 KM, making it appear slightly bigger, with an apparent size of 33.4 arc minutes.
“At its peak, the moon will glow reddish-orange because sunlight gets refracted by Earth’s atmosphere, which is why it’s called a ‘blood moon,'” the agency said.
To let the public experience this rare sight, MYSA, together with MAHA Tower and Tourism Malaysia Northern Region, will be hosting a main viewing event at MAHA Tower, Langkawi, from 10 PM to 5 AM.
The schedule of the lunar eclipse in Malaysian time is as follows:
- Penumbral phase begins at 11:28 PM on September 7
- Partial phase begins at 12:26 AM on September 8
- Total phase begins at 1:30 AM
- Maximum total eclipse at 2:11 AM
- Total phase ends at 2:53 AM
- Partial phase ends at 3:56 AM
- Penumbral phase ends at 4:55 AM
Don’t miss the live eclipse stream!
Visitors can catch the eclipse through telescopes, join astronomy sharing sessions, and even watch a live stream on MYSA’s official Facebook page. Observation spots will also be set up across the country, depending on the weather.
“The eclipse will be visible in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, but Malaysians are especially lucky as the entire phase can be seen clearly with just the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope.”
The full eclipse (excluding the penumbral phase) will last about 3 hours and 30 minutes, with the total phase lasting around 1 hour and 22 minutes.
Stay tuned to WORLD OF BUZZ for the latest updates!
Also read: You Can See The First Total Lunar ‘Blood Moon’ Eclipse of 2021 On 26 May!
