A Spectacular Partial Lunar Eclipse: A 580-Year Wait!
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Chapter 1: The Celestial Event
Did you manage to catch a glimpse of the partial lunar eclipse? This extraordinary phenomenon was visible across North America, the Pacific, Alaska, Eastern Japan, Eastern New Zealand, and Eastern Australia. It took place in the early hours of November 19, from 1:00 am to 7:06 am Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is the timezone I reference as I write this. This eclipse marked the longest partial lunar eclipse in nearly six centuries, lasting around six hours! The last occurrence of such an event dates back to the 1440s.
Partial lunar eclipse 2021, author photo
If you resided in one of the observable areas, you might have witnessed this spectacular sight. The timing was quite early, and I found myself contemplating whether I wanted to wake up that early to view it.
My Personal Encounter
On the night of November 18, I considered setting an alarm for 4 am to catch the peak of the eclipse. Ultimately, I decided against it, leaving my fate to chance. If I awoke, I would see it.
As luck would have it, I did wake up! I glanced at the clock and saw it was 4:45 am. Oh no! I had missed the peak! Fortunately, I was just in time to catch the latter part of the event!
With unexpected energy, I dashed to the window. My excitement overshadowed my fatigue. To my delight, the moon was visible through my bedroom window, with just enough breaks in the clouds to witness this celestial marvel.
With my naked eye, the view of the eclipsed moon was simply breathtaking! As my eyes adjusted, I could see the Earth’s shadow slowly creeping across the moon.
I quickly grabbed a pair of binoculars for a closer look. I spent several moments mesmerized by the moon before returning to bed for a few more hours. It was absolutely worth the early wake-up call!
Lesson learned: for future astronomical events occurring at dawn, I will definitely set my alarm!
If you were fortunate enough to catch the eclipse, especially at its peak, I hope the night sky cooperated for you!
Did you miss it? The next lunar eclipse will be a total one, taking place on May 15-16, 2022, visible from North America, South America, parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Here’s a delightful piece by fellow writer Robin Le Roy-Kyle that you might find inspiring. It presents a creative exercise to help you generate ideas when you’re feeling stuck.
The longest partial lunar eclipse in 580 years illuminated the skies, captivating viewers across various regions. This video highlights the awe and wonder of the event.
Explore the near-total lunar eclipse, the longest in almost 600 years, and the excitement it brought to stargazers around the globe.