Lunar eclipse visible on Dec. 21

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino sky watchers could witness a meteor shower and a lunar eclipse this month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

In its monthly astronomical diary, Pagasa said the annual Geminids meteor shower would be visible in the country on Dec. 14.

“Meteors or ‘falling stars’ can be seen at an average rate of 60 meteors per hour under a dark and cloudless sky with the quarter moon set just after midnight,” Pagasa said.

The shower would appear to radiate from the constellation of Gemini, the Twins, which will be located in the eastern horizon.

On the other hand, a total lunar eclipse would occur on Dec. 21, Pagasa said.

“For observers in eastern Asia including the Philippines, as the moon rises the eclipse is on its ending stage,” the state weather bureau said.

The eclipse would begin at 1:29 p.m. and end at 7:04 p.m.