Two weeks ahead of the eagerly anticipated total solar eclipse, the night of March 24 – 25 will bring forth another captivating celestial event as the moon steps into the spotlight for its own eclipse. Marking the inaugural lunar eclipse of 2024, this phenomenon will unfold on March 25, casting the moon into Earth’s penumbral shadow. While relatively subtle, the penumbral eclipse will be observable across North and South America.
During a penumbral lunar eclipse, the moon drifts through the lighter, outermost portion of Earth’s shadow, often posing a challenge for observers.
This celestial spectacle will be visible across various regions, including America, much of Europe, parts of Asia, Australia, Africa, and the northern and eastern reaches of Asia.
In accordance with Pakistan Standard Time (PST), the penumbral lunar eclipse is set to commence at 09:53 PST, reach its maximum eclipse at 12:12 PST, and conclude at 14:32 PST on March 25.
Spanning a duration of four hours and 40 minutes, the first lunar eclipse of 2024 sets the stage for a captivating astronomical event.
The intricate dance of lunar and solar eclipses reveals their interconnected nature. Solar eclipses occur exclusively when the moon aligns with a node of its orbit, where its path intersects with the sun’s trajectory, known as the ecliptic.
As the solar eclipse on April 8 approaches, the moon will traverse the ecliptic from south to north. However, in a complementary celestial choreography occurring half an orbit earlier, on March 24-25, the moon will traverse the opposite node, from north to south, intersecting Earth’s shadow. This period, from March 16 to April 23, encompasses an “eclipse season,” showcasing the intricate mechanics of celestial alignments.
