As the continental United States prepares for the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, the rest of the world including the Philippines will also have its share of a sky event on Aug. 7, when a partial lunar eclipse happens. The eclipse, according to PAG-ASA DOST, will be visible in the Philippines.
Partial Lunar Eclipse On Aug. 7: When To Watch
Sky events such as lunar and solar eclipses can be exciting to watch, especially for astronomy buffs. While watching a solar eclipse requires specialized equipment, this is not the case for a lunar eclipse. According to Time and Date, lunar eclipses are safe to watch – all you need is a pair of good binoculars or a telescope. This will magnify your view of the moon as the eclipse happens.
The PAG-ASA website cites that the phenomenon will occur on Aug. 7 at 11:50 p.m., Philippine Standard Time. It will progress until the greatest eclipse at 2:20 a.m. on Aug. 8. It is said to end at 4:51 a.m. It will be viewable all over the Philippines, including Manila.
How To Watch The Partial Lunar Eclipse
To watch this one of a kind sky event, no special filters are needed. Make sure you have a good pair of binoculars for a better view of the moon. The best place to watch it is on a rooftop or anywhere with a good view of the night sky. It is best to check the weather forecast also to find out if there will be clear skies the night in question. Aside from binoculars, you should also set up comfortable chairs to sit on for 2 hours or more.
In ancient times, sky events such as eclipses are seen as bad omens. For ancient Filipinos, it is said that the sun and the moon are being swallowed by a giant sea-dwelling serpent called Bakunawa. They also believed that the only way to stop this creature is to make some noise and drive it back to the sea.