The first total lunar eclipse of 2019 will be taking place tomorrow and this will be the last total lunar eclipse for the next three years; the next total lunar eclipse will be on 16 May 2022 in Europe, though there will still be some partial lunar eclipses in the meantime.

The total lunar eclipse will be visible from Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean and the Arctic. Tomorrow’s lunar eclipse will be visible in Doha, but as a penumbral lunar eclipse; the lunar eclipse’s total phase will not be visible in Doha.

The moon will still be visible during the lunar eclipse but will have a reddish tint. In other words, it will be a 'blood moon'.

Penumbral lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is covered by the shadow of the earth, and a penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves through the outer portion of the earth's shadow. The moon, earth and sun are imperfectly aligned in this type of lunar eclipse. This causes the earth to block a part of the sun’s rays from reaching directly to the surface of the moon. This hides all of, or a portion, of the moon with the outer portion of its shadow, which is called the penumbra, and is a lot fainter than the dark core of the shadow of the earth, so, often, people think it is a regular full moon, according to Time and Date.

Stages and time of the lunar eclipse in Doha

The lunar eclipse in Doha will begin at 5:37 am at the time of dawn on 21 January, with the maximum eclipse taking place at 8:12 am. This is the time when the moon will be at an altitude of -22. The lunar eclipse will end at around 10:48 am when the penumbral magnitude is at 2.168 (when a portion of the Moon is blocked by the entrance to the penumbra of the earth) and the umbral magnitude is at 1.195 (when a portion of the Moon is blocked by the earth’s umbra).

Make sure you have a good, clear view towards west-northwest because you will be able to see the lunar eclipse between 5:36 am and 6:07 am. From 6:20 am up until the lunar eclipse comes to an end at 10:48 am, it will be below the horizon so it will not be directly visible from Doha.

Did you know…

about 1 out of every 3 lunar eclipses are penumbral. It is not always possible to observe the start and end of a penumbral lunar eclipse, even with telescopes.

How to watch the lunar eclipse

If you’re interested in watching the lunar eclipse in Doha,

• The lunar eclipse, unlike the solar eclipse, can be seen by the naked eye.
• Make sure to check the weather forecast before you venture out on this little adventure.
• Take along some warm clothing since it will be probably be quite cold in the early morning.
• Find a good location from where you will be able to see the lunar eclipse.
• Take a pair of binoculars or telescope (optional) with you if you want to get a better view of the eclipse.
• Take along a video camera or a good camera so you can capture the lunar eclipse in all its glory as a keepsake.

Will you be on the lookout for this year's first lunar eclipse? Do let us know in our Comments section. Share and like the article - it keeps us going!

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Nabeela

Content Writer

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