Next week the UAE will get not one, but two celestial phenomena: a blood moon followed by a partial eclipse.
The partial lunar eclipse, will take place on July 16-17 and last a total of five hours and 34 minutes. Immediately preceding the eclipse, stargazers will be treated to the moon turning rustic red.
The UAE’s partial solar eclipse will begin at 10:34 PM on July 16, and last until 4.17 AM the next day.
Fortunately, getting a look at the solar eclipse is rather easy. Spectators will be able to see it from anywhere with an unobstructed view of the skies.
While Dubai emits a significant amount of light pollution (as it is a big city with many lights), those looking to photography are better off heading to the beach or the desert.
Speaking to Gulf News, Dubai Astronomy Group CEO Hasan Al Hariri said that viewers of the moon don’t have to worry about hurting their eyes.
The Dubai Astronomy Group will be holding a special observatory talk and Q&A session about the partial lunar eclipse that evening, at Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre, Mushrif Park in Dubai.
While you are not supposed to look directly at a solar eclipse, the moon doesn’t give off any of its own light – it only reflects that of the sun on the other side of the Earth.
The next big celestial event after this one will be on December 26, when the annual solar eclipse hits the UAE.
For more information, head to dubaiastronomy.com
