Half-blood moon eclipse over Asia: best time to see the partial lunar eclipse on July 17
- A partial lunar eclipse will occur just before dawn on Wednesday, July 17, in Asia. The next eclipse of any interest won’t happen until 2022
- For Asia, the moon will turn 65 per cent blood red when it is close to setting in the western sky
If you’re thinking that there have been a number of spectacular lunar eclipses lately, you are right. There was a total lunar eclipse in January 2018 and another in January 2019.
On both occasions Asia was treated to the view of our satellite turning an orangey-red colour for over an hour as it dipped in and out of Earth’s shadow in space.
What will happen on Wednesday July 17 is different. While turning half red – which is going to produce something akin to an odd-looking smile hanging in the sky – it will also be the final lunar eclipse of any interest for a few years.
In fact, after July 17’s “half-blood moon eclipse”, Asian counties will not witness another so-called “blood moon” until 2021.
Wednesday morning’s partial lunar eclipse promises to be a dramatic sight. The best time to look at the full moon is always just after moonrise or just before moonset, when our satellite hangs just above the horizon.
For Asia, the moon will turn 65 per cent blood red when it is close to setting in the western sky.