DOUBLE TREAT: This composite image created on Jan. 31 shows the moon during a lunar eclipse in Tokyo. On Friday, the longest blood moon eclipse will coincide with Mars’ closest approach to Earth in 15 years in a thrilling astronomical double bill. Image: AFP
Want to witness the total lunar eclipse that’s happening on Saturday, July 28? The Philippine Astronomical Society (PAS) can help you out.
The PAS released a list of observation sites where the eclipse can be seen best, according to the society’s Facebook post last July 12.
The society also encouraged the public to observe the “astronomical event,” as the phenomena happening this Saturday will be the longest lunar eclipse of the century, lasting one hour and 43 minutes. In the Philippines, the total eclipse will start at 3:30 a.m and end at 5:13 a.m.
However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Association (PAG-ASA) announced that cloudy skies might affect chances of Filipinos seeing the eclipse over the weekend.
READ: Earth awaits longest blood moon
Nevertheless, here are the sites with map links as listed by the PAS, as of this writing:
QUEZON CITY
Host: UP Astronomical Society
Venue: PAGASA Astronomical Observatory
Map: https://goo.gl/8NtNyY
More details: https://goo.gl/PkMAjH
open to all, walk-ins allowed
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QUEZON CITY
Host: ScienceQuest X PAS
Venue: Megatent parking lot, Libis
Map: https://goo.gl/Z5Nj7N
open to all, walk-ins allowed
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CAVITE
Host: Astronomy and Physics Society of St. Edward Integrated Shool
Venue: Backfield of SEIS- Imus Campus, Lancaster New City Cavite
Map: https://goo.gl/rRBPqu
open to all, walk-ins allowed
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TAGUIG
Host: Philippine Astronomical Society
Venue: The Nest Food and Lifestyle Park Taguig
Map: https://goo.gl/YLH5y7
open to all, walk-ins allowed
____________________________________
CEBU
Host: IAU Astronomical Society
Venue: IAU Arena IAU Town Center kagudoy Rd. Basak Lapu Lapu City Cebu
Complete details: https://goo.gl/fYtUf3
open to all, walk-ins allowed
The PAS also noted that more sites will be added to their list in the following days. The public is advised to visit their page from time to time for further updates.
The total lunar eclipse will be the second this year. A lunar eclipse also happened on Jan. 31, known as the “super blue blood moon.”
Aside from the upcoming lunar eclipse, Mars will also make its closest approach with Earth. The last time this happened was in 2003, when the Earth and Mars were at their closest after 60,000 years, according to NASA. JB
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