Oman to experience penumbral lunar eclipse on Friday

 Muscat: A partial lunar eclipse will occur on Friday, August 28, which will be visible across wide areas of the world, while observers in the Sultanate of Oman will witness only a subtle penumbral phase of the eclipse.

According to astronomical data, the eclipse will begin in the Sultanate of Oman at 5:23 am (local time), continuing until approximately 5:43 am, when the observable phase comes to an end. The phenomenon will coincide with the early morning hours and the approach of dawn.

The eclipse will be difficult to distinguish clearly with the naked eye from Oman because the visible phase will be limited to the penumbral shadow, which produces a relatively slight change in the Moon's appearance. The Moon will also be close to the horizon during the period of observation, further limiting the visibility of the phenomenon.

Globally, the lunar eclipse will be observable from parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America, as well as from areas over the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans and the Southern Ocean.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Moon to pass through the Earth's shadow. During a penumbral eclipse, the Moon moves through the outer portion of that shadow, resulting in a less pronounced darkening compared with the deeper stages of a partial lunar eclipse.

For observers in Oman, the brief period between 5:23 am and 5:43 am will provide the opportunity to follow the penumbral phase, although the subtle nature of the phenomenon and its occurrence close to dawn may make it challenging to observe.