Partial lunar eclipse for 5 hours in Mecca
MECCA: The Holy City experienced a partial lunar eclipse on Monday night, which was visible to the naked eye, for five hours.
The eclipse began at 7pm local time (12 midnight Malaysian time) and reached its maximum at 9.20pm (2.20am), then ended at 11.50pm (4.50am).
Special prayers were held at the Grand Mosque after Isyak prayers during the eclipse, followed by a 15-minute sermon.
Tabung Haji staff and members of the media took photos of the event.
A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the sun and moon but all three are not precisely aligned. During this period, a part of the moon’s visible surface moves into the Earth’s shadow.
The next partial lunar eclipses are expected to occur in July 2019, November 2021 and October 2023.