First penumbral lunar eclipse in 2023 visible in Vietnam on May 5

People in Vietnam can observe a penumbral lunar eclipse on May 5, starting at 10:14 pm and ending at 2:31 am on May 6. During the eclipse, skywatchers will see the moon darken but not completely disappear.

The moon will darken but not completely disappear as it slips into Earth's outer shadow on Friday (May 5), creating a penumbral lunar eclipse. (Photo: Space)
The moon will darken but not completely disappear as it slips into Earth's outer shadow on Friday (May 5), creating a penumbral lunar eclipse. (Photo: Space)

People in Vietnam can observe a penumbral lunar eclipse on May 5, according to President of the Vietnam Astronomy and Cosmology Association (VACA) Dang Vu Tuan Son.

Son said that the eclipse will start at 10:14 pm on May 5 and end at 2:31 am on May 6. During the eclipse, skywatchers will see the moon darken but not completely disappear.

The last time people on the Earth were able to observe a penumbral lunar eclipse from North America was on November 30, 2020, and the special astronomical phenomenon will come on March 25, 2024. The next total lunar eclipse - commonly known as the "blood moon" will take place on March 13-14, 2025.

According to theconversation.com, on May 5, 2023, people around the world will witness a lunar eclipse when the Earth gets between the Sun and the Moon and casts part of its shadow on the Moon.

The eclipse will be visible in Africa, Asia, Australia and large portions of Europe, though not in the US this time around. This eclipse is not what some call a “blood moon” as it will not turn red. Instead, the Moon will dim slightly as it passes through a lighter part of the Earth’s shadow – called the penumbra.

Like all lunar eclipses, penumbral eclipses occur as a result of Earth passing between the moon and the sun with the three bodies in a straight line. This results in the shadow of our planet falling on the moon's face as Earth blocks the light from the sun. This can lead to events that, unlike solar eclipses, can be subtle and difficult to observe.

A penumbral eclipse happens when the moon passes into the lighter outer region of the Earth's shadow which is called the penumbra. This is an area in which the Earth appears to cover part of the sun's disk but not all of it. This means when the moon is within the penumbra, it receives less light from the sun and is dimmed but still remains somewhat illuminated.

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(Source: VNA/Space.com)