Bangladesh witnesses longest lunar eclipse

A combo of six pictures shows a `blood moon` total lunar eclipse in Bishkek late on 27 July 2018. Photo: AFP
A combo of six pictures shows a `blood moon` total lunar eclipse in Bishkek late on 27 July 2018. Photo: AFP

Although the sky over Bangladesh was not too clear due to clouds, many people of the country saw the record-breaking lunar eclipse early Saturday.

The moon was to be eclipsed by the earth's shadow for more than three hours, starting on Friday night and then into the early hours of Saturday morning.

A bride poses for photo during a total lunar eclipse from in Brasilia, Brazil, on 27 July 2018. Photo: Reuters
A bride poses for photo during a total lunar eclipse from in Brasilia, Brazil, on 27 July 2018. Photo: Reuters

The longest lunar eclipse of the century started at 11:13pm and ended at 5:30am, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

The maximum eclipse occurred at 1:37am, making Bangladeshis thrilled, reports UNB.

This picture shows the full moon during a `blood moon` eclipse as seen from Dhaka early on 28 July 2018. Photo: AFP
This picture shows the full moon during a `blood moon` eclipse as seen from Dhaka early on 28 July 2018. Photo: AFP

The total lunar eclipse takes place when the earth comes between the sun and the moon and covers the moon with its shadow. When this happens, the moon becomes red, earning it the nickname “blood moon”.

People watch a full moon rising behind the Temple of Poseidon before a lunar eclipse in Cape Sounion, near Athens, Greece, on 27 July 2018. Photo: Reuters
People watch a full moon rising behind the Temple of Poseidon before a lunar eclipse in Cape Sounion, near Athens, Greece, on 27 July 2018. Photo: Reuters

This time, the earth's shadow completely devoured the moon, causing the night sky to be pitch black. However, while looking skyward during a solar eclipse cane be extremely harmful to human eyes, watching a lunar eclipse is harmless.

The full moon is seen during a lunar eclipse in the sky over Frankfurt, Germany, on 27 July 2018. Photo: Reuters
The full moon is seen during a lunar eclipse in the sky over Frankfurt, Germany, on 27 July 2018. Photo: Reuters