Full lunar eclipse expected June 15
The first full lunar eclipse this year is expected on June 15. Sky watchers will witness an unusually long lunar eclipse this night when the moon will appear 10,000 to 100,000 times dimmer. It is said that this eclipse will be one of the darkest eclipses ever.
During the totality of the eclipse, the moon will pass through the center of the earth's shadow.
The June 15 eclipse will be clearly visible to observers in Africa, southern Asia and Australia, while people in North America will lose the event as it will occur on the day when the moon is behind the local horizon.
The event will be the first of the two lunar eclipses in 2011 and the third of all eclipses that occur throughout the year.
The last lunar eclipse of similar length took place on July 16, 2000 and lasted 107 minutes
A lunar eclipse occurs at a full moon when Earth is directly between the moon and the sun, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. As a result, the Moon gradually changes its colour, turning from silver to orange or red.
Indians have a special attitude to lunar eclipses. They prefer to stay indoors on those days. In some families mothers-in-law do not allow their daughters-in-law to go out after sunset. Many families do not have supper on those days.
Talking to A1+, Indian astronomer Acharya Sharma said the June 15 lunar eclipse is due in Sagittarius.
"The Moon will remain completely within Earth's shadow and will be almost invisible. Similar eclipses have a negative impact and it is recommended that people abstain from going out and eating food till the next afternoon," he said.
The eclipse will start at 10:24 p.m. (Yerevan time) and will last till 04:00 June 16.
The next total lunar eclipse will occur in December 2011.
European countries have seriously prepared for the total lunar eclipse on June 15. Some companies even rented areas and placed telescopes to view the eclipse.
