Star-gazers are in for a treat tonight, June 5, as residents in the Mother City will be able to witness a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.
As far as astronomical events go, 2020 has been an eventful year, from an array of super moons to a meteor shower and now a lunar eclipse.
This evening, June 5, Cape Town will witness a unique lunar eclipse known as the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.
During this unusual lunar event the Earth’s main shadow does not cover the moon, instead a lighter shadow is cast over the moon by the edge of the Earth’s shadow.
Often mistaken for a super moon, this kind of eclipse occurs when the sun, moon and the Earth are imperfectly aligned. It is called the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse because the outer part of the Earth’s shadow is known as the Penumbra.
Starting at 7.45pm this evening, the eclipse will reach its maximum at 9.24pm, where half of the moon will be covered by a light shadow.
The event will come to an end at 11.04pm.
Don’t forget to look up at the sky tonight and mark you calendar because another Penumbral Lunar Eclipse is expected to be visible from Cape Town on July 5.
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