Oman to Experience Total Lunar Eclipse on March 13, 2025

Oman will experience a total lunar eclipse on March 13, 2025, with limited visibility for residents. Key phases include penumbral at 7:57 a.m., partial at 9:09 a.m., and total at 10:26 a.m. Although Oman will miss the full spectacle, substantial visibility will be available across other parts of the globe. The phenomenon involves the Earth’s shadow obscuring the moon’s light, with total lunar eclipses causing a reddish hue.

Oman is preparing to witness a total lunar eclipse on Thursday, March 13th, marking the first such occurrence of 2025. Although this celestial event will be visible globally, residents in Oman will have restricted visibility. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalidi from the Omani Society for Astronomy and Space noted that the penumbral eclipse will start at 7:57 a.m. local time, followed by the partial eclipse at 9:09 a.m. The total eclipse will begin at 10:26 a.m. and conclude at 11:31 a.m., with all phases ending by 2:00 p.m.

Despite this exciting astronomical event, it is essential to recognize that the moon’s peak visibility in Muscat Governorate at 5:45 a.m. precedes the penumbral phase, meaning that Oman cannot fully witness the entire event. However, large sections of Australia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas will be able to observe it, particularly during nighttime.

A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth’s shadow blocks sunlight from reaching the moon, aligning all three celestial bodies—Earth, sun, and moon—in a straight line. There are three types of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral. A total eclipse results in the entire moon appearing reddish due to the Earth’s umbra, while a partial eclipse only covers part of the moon. The dimming observed during a penumbral eclipse happens when the moon enters the Earth’s penumbra. Lunar eclipses occur during full moons and differ from solar eclipses, which happen during new moons. Notably, eclipses do not occur every month due to the tilt of the moon’s orbit; lunar eclipses can happen up to three times a year, while solar eclipses may occur up to five times.

In summary, Oman is set to experience a partial view of a total lunar eclipse on March 13th, 2025. With key phases occurring between 7:57 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. local time, residents will miss the complete spectacle due to the moon’s peak visibility earlier in the morning. Lunar eclipses, distinct from solar eclipses, occur during full moons and can happen multiple times a year.

Original Source: timesofoman.com