LATEST NEWS: Astronomy Enthusiasts Gear up for the Weekend: Lunar Eclipse

Space enthusiasts across the globe are in for a treat this weekend, as they will have the opportunity to witness a rare astronomical event. The weekend of May 26th and 27th will feature not one but three celestial events, including the year's first lunar eclipse, the Aquariids meteor shower, and the May Flower Moon.Show more

The lunar eclipse will begin at 15:15 GMT (8:45 pm IST) on Friday, and people all over the world will be able to see the penumbral eclipse. During a penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through the fainter outer shadow of the Earth, and sunlight falling on our natural satellite appears to be partially cut off. The eclipse will last for several hours, and all phases of the lunar eclipse, from beginning to end, will be visible from several parts of India. Cities across the globe such as Johannesburg, Tashkent, Bangkok, Seoul, Cairo, Manila, Philippines, Jakarta, Singapore, Ankara, Dhaka, Yangon, Hanoi, Melbourne, Baghdad, Moscow, Taipei, Tokyo, Beijing, and Athens will also be able to see the eclipse.

Additionally, the weekend will also feature the Aquariids meteor shower. According to the American space agency NASA, the Aquariid meteor shower is active throughout April and May, with hundreds of meteors expected to be visible every hour. The peak time to see the meteor will be just before dawn on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (in the areas where they will be visible). The peak is expected at 11 am EST (8.30 pm IST) on Saturday. Those who want to watch the Aquariids shower could see up to 20 meteors per hour. However, those in Canada and other northern countries will have a smaller window to see it, whereas people in the southern hemisphere will get a slightly longer time frame to see the celestial bodies falling from the sky, according to the American Meteor Society. Subscribe for more content like this.

The final event of the weekend will be the May 'Flower Moon,' which is the first full moon of the month of flowers. It is called the 'Flower Moon' because flowers spring forth across North America in abundance this month, as per Almanac. The 'Flower Moon' will coincide with the penumbral lunar eclipse and will be visible between 11:13 am and 3:31 pm EST on Friday (8:43 pm to midnight IST).

Astronomy experts are excited about this weekend's celestial events and encourage people to take advantage of the opportunity to witness them. While the events are visible across various regions and time zones, it's essential to ensure one has the proper equipment and safety precautions before attempting to watch them. Astronomy enthusiasts can use telescopes, binoculars, or just their naked eyes to witness these events, depending on their location and the time of day.

In conclusion, the weekend of May 26th and 27th is a significant one for astronomy enthusiasts as they will have the opportunity to witness three incredible celestial events, including the lunar eclipse, meteor shower, and Flower Moon. People around the world are excited about these events and are looking forward to witnessing them firsthand. Thanks for watching, subscribe to our channel for authenticity.