Penumbral lunar eclipse visible today

MANILA, Philippines - A penumbral lunar eclipse will occur today.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the eclipse will begin at 12:53 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time) and end at 6:37 p.m.

In Manila, the moon will rise at 6:12 p.m. on April 15 and set at 5:26 a.m. the following day.

Penumbra refers to a partially shaded outer region of a shadow that an object casts.

“A penumbral eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the faint penumbral portion of the earth’s shadow,” PAGASA said.

Penumbral eclipses are so subtle and vaguely visible they go greatly unnoticed, according to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

A total lunar eclipse will be observed in western Africa, western Europe, the Americas, Australasia and eastern Asia.

The moon turns coppery red during the eclipse as it passes through the Earth’s shadow.

People in North and South America will be able to see the entire eclipse, while sky watchers in the western Pacific can catch only the last half, NASA said.