Islamabad, September 16, 2024 – The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced on Monday that Pakistan will witness a partial lunar eclipse on September 18, 2024. The eclipse will be visible in several regions across the globe, including Europe, most of Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and parts of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Arctic and Antarctica.
While the eclipse will be partially visible in Pakistan, it will occur at a time when the moon will be below the horizon for a portion of the event, making it difficult to observe the entire phenomenon.
According to the PMD, the eclipse will follow this schedule (in Pakistan Standard Time, PST):
• Penumbral Eclipse begins: 05:41 AM
• Partial Eclipse begins: 07:13 AM
• Maximum Eclipse: 07:44 AM
• Partial Eclipse ends: 08:16 AM
• Penumbral Eclipse ends: 09:47 AM
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the moon’s surface. A partial eclipse happens when only a portion of the moon enters Earth’s umbra (the darkest part of its shadow). The penumbral eclipse, which occurs at the start and end of the event, is when the moon passes through the Earth’s outer shadow, causing only a slight darkening of its surface.
For Pakistan, the partial lunar eclipse presents a unique opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts, although the visibility will be limited due to the moon being below the horizon for part of the eclipse. Observers in the country are encouraged to begin watching the eclipse as soon as the partial phase begins at 07:13 AM, provided they have a clear view of the western sky.
Lunar eclipses have fascinated people for centuries and are considered one of nature’s most awe-inspiring celestial events. As the moon takes on a partial shadowed appearance, viewers in Pakistan can expect to witness a gradual darkening of its surface, although the eclipse will not be as striking as a total lunar eclipse.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department advises those interested in observing the partial lunar eclipse to check local weather conditions beforehand, as cloud cover could impact visibility in certain regions.
