Eclipses are generally to be considered as inauspicious celestial events in astrology. Hence, it is advisable for all to stay indoors during the period of the eclipse and not to look at it – whether it is a solar or lunar eclipse.

 “Ouiiii…. don’t be superstitious! We are already in Year 2020 already!!” ok, I hear you shouting in the background. Well, let’s look at the scientific explanation behind this customary belief that started in ancient times. According to the health authorities, it is a myth that the sun emits more dangerous ultraviolet light rays during an eclipse. In fact, the sun behaves as it always does, eclipse or no eclipse. The amount of invisible ultraviolet (UV) light rays remains the same, but the solar eclipse limits the amount of visible light coming down to Earth. When there is limited light, the iris expands the size of the pupil to allow more light into the eye to see. The damage occurs because the eye is fooled by the celestial phenomenon and allows a potentially dangerous amount of UV light into the eye, which has the very real capacity to damage the retina.

Though a lunar eclipse is not considered as harmful as a solar eclipse, wearing protective eye-wear while looking at the moon during this time is advised.

My take??  Although GoodLuck Everyday is sort of an astronomy fanatic, i will be heading home for an early night.

For those interested, here are the specific timings of the eclipse in UTC & Singapore/ Kuala Lumpur/ Hong Kong time.

Event	UTC Time	Time in SG/HK/KL	Visibility in Singapore
Penumbral Eclipse begins	30 Nov20 @ 07:32:22	30 Nov20 @ 15:32:22	No, below the horizon
Maximum Eclipse	30 Nov20 @ 09:42:22	30 Nov 20 @ 17:42:53	No, below the horizon
Penumbral Eclipse ends	30 Nov20 @ 11:33:22	30 Nov 20 @ 19:53:22	Yes

* The Moon is below the horizon in Singapore some of the time, so that part of the eclipse is not visible.

The total duration of the eclipse is 4 hours, 21 minutes.

An Eclipse Never Comes Alone!

A solar eclipse always occurs about 2 weeks before or after a lunar eclipse

PS. The next solar eclipse is on the 14 December 2020. Ok, this one I’m hibernating 🙂