Lunar eclipse on July 5: All that you need to know about the penumbral lunar eclipse

• The world will see three eclipses in a row within a month’s span between June and July 2020.
  
  
• The third eclipse in the sequence occurs on July 5 following a lunar eclipse on June 5 and solar eclipse on June 21.
  
  
• The lunar eclipse on July 5 will be a penumbral one.

Three eclipses in a row within a month’s span is something interesting for the sky viewers all over the world. The world saw a strawberry lunar eclipse on June 5. It was followed by a solar eclipse on June 21. Yet another penumbral lunar eclipse will occur on July 5.

The penumbral lunar eclipse on July 5

On July 5, 2020, there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse. The eclipse will start at 8:37 AM in the morning, attain the maximum eclipse phase at 9:59 am and will close by 11:22 am. The total duration of the eclipse will be 2 hours 43 minutes and 24 seconds approximately.

From where the eclipse will be visible?

The upcoming lunar eclipse will not be visible in India as the entire schedule of the eclipse occurs when it is day time in India and hence the Moon will not be visible under daylight. However, the penumbral lunar eclipse will be seen across most parts of the African continent, Northern America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Antarctic and the Indian Ocean.

What to expect during a penumbral lunar eclipse

Eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon and the Earth are exactly aligned in a straight line. A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth’s shadow covers up the Moon for a brief time when the Moon passes in between the Earth and the Sun.

A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when only the outer shadow of the Earth known as penumbra falls on the Moon in a diffused manner. While a total or partial eclipse can be easily spotted, a penumbral eclipse cannot be spotted so easily.

During the occurrence of a penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon will darken slightly and the difference will be visible to those very keen eyes or a pair of binoculars. Fred Espenak, an eclipse expert says about 35% of the lunar eclipses are penumbral in nature.

On July 5, 2020, the lunar eclipse will also coincide with a phenomenon called Full Buck Moon when the Moon will appear a bit darker than usual.

There will be four lunar eclipses in 2020

In the year 2020, there will be four lunar eclipses. The first one occurred on January 10. The second one happened on June 5. The third one of the year will be seen from the Earth on July 5. The fourth and the last lunar eclipse of the year will happen on November 30. Notably, all four lunar eclipses in 2020 are penumbral ones.

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