Partial eclipse of the moon tonight

A partial eclipse of the moon may be viewed from Malta tonight, according to the Malta Astronomical Society.

What happens during a partial lunar eclipse is that the earth, the sun and the moon are almost exactly in line and the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun.

The moon moves partly into the shadow of the earth and dims dramatically, with the shadowed portion of the lunar surface lit by sunlight that passes through the earth's atmosphere.

Stronger atmospheric scattering of blue light means the light that reaches the lunar surface has a reddish hue, so observers on earth will see a moon that is partly light and partly dark, with hints of colour that depend on terrestrial atmospheric conditions.

The moon will first enter earth's shadow at 9.36 p.m. and maximum eclipse will occur at 11.10 p.m. when the eclipsed part of the moon will attain a reddish hue. The moon leaves earth's shadow at 12.45 a.m.

The Astronomical Society is organising a presentation this evening at 8.30 at the Greek Theatre, Ġnien l-Għarusa tal-Mosta near the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, Tarġa Gap, Mosta, where Frank Ventura and Leonard Ellul Mercer will take the audience on a "tour" of the constellations and will capture through a telescope images of deep sky wonders and project them on a big screen.

Telescopes will also be set up for the public to be able to view the planet Jupiter and the lunar eclipse. This activity is free of charge.