On the early evening of May 26, 2021, there will be a total lunar eclipse that will be visible in the Philippines as well as Asia. The Moon will rise at around with more or less 50% umbral partial phase started midway already at 06:18pm PST (Philippine Standard Time) so it is best to find an observing site with a clear eastern horizon. This eclipse will pass near the Northern path of the Earth’s shadow thus totality for this eclipse will be quite short at around 15 minutes only ! Moon will enter Totality at around 07:11pm PST with maximum totality phase occurring at 7:19pm PST with the Moon at around 11 deg high in the SE horizon near the constellation of Scorpius so the bright star Antares will be around 5 degrees below the eclipsed Moon. Totality will end at around 07:26pm PST. Afterwards, the Moon will gradually start to exit the umbral shadow until it exits umbral phase at around 08:53pm PST. The Moon will totally exits the penumbral phase at 09:50pm PST signifying the end of the eclipse event.
Full Eclipse circumstances are as follows:
Moon enters Penumbra :
Moon enters Umbra :
Moonrise : 06:18:12pm // 00 deg Alt // 112 deg Az
Moon enters Totality : 07:11:28pm // 11deg Alt // 116 deg Az
Maximum Eclipse : 07:18:42pm // 13 deg Alt // 116 deg Az
Moon exits Totality : 07:25:56pm // 14 deg Alt // 117 deg Az
Moon exits Umbra: 08:52:25pm // 31 deg Alt // 127 deg Az
Moon exits Penumbra: 09:49:47pm // 41 deg Alt // 138 deg Az
The Moon is expected to still be bright during totality so this is also favorable for imagers who doesn’t have a motorized tracking mount. Good luck to all and clear skies!
