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Friday May 10, 2024

When and where to see last lunar eclipse of 2023

Grand celestial event comes for a last time this year, two weeks after dazzling "ring of fire" solar eclipse

By Web Desk
October 27, 2023
A lunar eclipse occurring as a shadow falls on the moon seen through a telescope. — AFP
A lunar eclipse occurring as a shadow falls on the moon seen through a telescope. — AFP

The world is set to witness a lunar eclipse tomorrow (Saturday) night, so sky-gazers, this is your chance to catch the grand celestial event for the last time this year.

The phenomenon comes just two weeks after a dazzling "ring of fire" solar eclipse, which was the last solar eclipse for the year 2023.

Tomorrow's lunar eclipse will be a partial penumbral lunar eclipse, as per a report published by Earth Sky — gracing the night sky one last time in 2023.

Earlier, the phenomenon occurred at the start of May this year.

The eclipse will be visible in parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, North/East South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic and Antarctica.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that the October 28 lunar eclipse will also be seen in Pakistan.

It said that the eclipse would start in the wee hours of Saturday at 11:02pm (local time), peak at 01:14am and end at 03:26am on October 29 (Sunday).

What is a lunar eclipse?

Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth positions itself between the sun and the moon and casts a shadow across the moon's surface. They can only occur during a full moon and make for an interesting skywatching target.

Types of lunar eclipse

It should be noted that there are three types of lunar eclipses depending on how the Sun, Earth, and moon are aligned at the time of the event.

Total lunar eclipse — Earth's shadow is cast across the entire lunar surface.

Partial lunar eclipse — Only part of the moon enters Earth's shadow, which may look like it is taking a "bite" out of the lunar surface

Penumbral lunar eclipse — the faint outer part of Earth's shadow is cast across the lunar surface