Partial lunar eclipse June 4
A partial lunar eclipse is expected to take place on June 4, 2012.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes behind the Earth so that the Earth blocks the Sun's rays from striking the Moon.
This lunar eclipse will be completely visible over Australia, rising over eastern Asia and setting over western North America. New England and eastern Canada will miss the entire eclipse since the event begins after moonset in those regions. Armenians cannot see the lunar eclipse either.
The Moon will be about one third covered by the Earth's umbral shadow at maximum eclipse. The portion of the moon within the penumbral shadow will be significantly dimmed. The portion of the moon inside the umbral shadow will only be illuminated by sunlight refracted through the Earth's atmosphere, thus much dimmer, and having a reddish hue.
At the instant of greatest eclipse the face of the moon will be 0.3705% covered by Earth's shadow. At that time the moon will be overhead for observers in the South Pacific.
The next penumbral lunar eclipse is expected to occur on November 28 but it will be again invisible in Armenia, the Astronomical Society of Armenian reports.
