(CNN Philippines) – A total lunar eclipse spanning nearly five minutes happened on Black Saturday (April 4), although the rare heavenly treat was only visible in the Philippines as a partial eclipse.
In most parts of the country, Filipinos were able to partially see the rare – and quick – celestial event as the moon slipped into the earth’s shadows just before 8 p.m. (local time).
The full view of the lunar event only lasted four minutes and 43 seconds, making it the shortest one of the century. It was seen in the western half of North America, Oceania, Australasia, and eastern Asia.
Here’s how the partial eclipse unfolded in Manila::
Phase Time
Penumbral eclipse started 4:51 p.m.
Partial eclipse started 6:15 p.m.
Greatest eclipse 8:00 p.m.
Partial eclipse ended 9:45 p.m.
Penumbral eclipse ended 11:00 p.m.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon aligns in space, with the Earth in the middle and the Moon passes directly behind the Earth’s shadow during a night of full moon.
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