MANILA — A “Blood Moon” will paint the sky red in Metro Manila and other parts of the Philippines during a total lunar eclipse on Sept. 7 to 8, PAGASA said Tuesday. The phenomenon happens when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up, and our planet casts a giant shadow across its satellite. But the Earth’s shadow does not entirely blot out the Moon’s white glow. Instead, it turns a reddish color as sunlight filtered through Earth’s atmosphere is refracted off the Moon’s surface. PAGASA said the Moon will be totally eclipsed in Manila and other parts of the Philippines for nearly 1 hour and 23 minutes.
“A total lunar eclipse is very easy to observe. A modest pair of binoculars will provide an excellent view of the Moon’s surface, but it is not required,” PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said in a statement. “Unlike solar eclipses, observing a lunar eclipse is completely safe and does not require protective eyewear,” he added. Stargazers in other parts of Asia, East Africa, and Australia will also be able to witness the phenomenon, PAGASA said.
