Lunar eclipse visible in Europe this Saturday

Although lunar eclipses happen twice a year, a total eclipse is rarer and a much awaited celestial event.

The eclipse can be observed with the naked eye but telescopes may add to the viewing pleasure. Viewers will see the full moon passing through the Earth's shadow and the whole passage will last for a few hours.

Previous lunar observations provide a vivid description. As the moon sails into the penumbra (the outer shadow, cast by the angular light of the much larger Sun) it will gradually take on a reddish-orange hue.

The moon will first be seen entering the Earth's shadow at around 8.18 p.m. Slowly it will pass deeper into the shadow region called umbra when the moon will be directly behind the Earth in relation to the Sun. Its passage through the darkest umbra will begin at 9.30 p.m. and end at about 11.58 p.m. It will be completely out of the Earth's shadow by around half past 2 early Sunday morning.