Malaysians can observe penumbral lunar eclipse on Wednesday

Malaysians will have the opportunity to observe a penumbral lunar eclipse phenomenon which is expected to occur this Wednesday.

National Space Agency Head of Corporate Communications Unit Wan Hakimah Abd Rahim, in a statement here on Monday, said the eclipse would occur from 7.21pm when the moon began rising until 9.55pm when the moon moved completely out of the Earth's penumbra (shadow).

"The lunar eclipse on Wednesday (March 23) will be the first lunar eclipse this year," she said.

She said the agency and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry with the cooperation of Starfield Instruments Supply would organise the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse observation programme for the public at the National Planetarium on that day starting at 7.30pm.

Several telescopes will be provided for the lunar eclipse and Jupiter observation purposes, but members of the public are encouraged to bring their own telescopes, she added.