PETALING JAYA: There will be a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday night (March 3), also known as a "blood moon."
According to the Malaysian Space Agency, the lunar eclipse, which coincides with the 14th night of Ramadan and Chap Goh Meh, will be visible in East Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and Central America.
"The partial eclipse phase (U1) will begin at 5.50pm, followed by the full eclipse phase (U2) at 7.04pm, with the maximum eclipse (GE) occurring at 7.33pm," it said.
"The full phase will end at 8.02pm before returning to the partial phase (U3) until 9.17pm," it added.
"In most states in Peninsular Malaysia, the moon will rise during the full phase and may be difficult to observe due to the still-bright evening sky," it said.
"Sabah and Sarawak will have a higher chance of observing the eclipse as the moon rises earlier there, placing it at a higher angle in the sky," the agency said in a Facebook post.
The agency said that in Kuala Lumpur, the moon’s altitude will be around two degrees above the eastern horizon at the time of maximum eclipse.
"The entire eclipse will last around five hours and 39 minutes, while the total phase will last nearly 58 minutes," it said.
The lunar eclipse can be observed with the naked eye if weather permits. However, binoculars or a telescope will provide a clearer view of the phenomenon.
The next total lunar eclipse will occur on Dec 31, 2028.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon, causing the Earth's shadow to completely cover the moon's surface.
This makes the moon appear reddish, giving rise to the "blood moon" phenomenon.
