Eclipse prayers were held across the country Friday night, following the sighting of lunar eclipse, the last to be seen this year. According to the Islamic Affairs Ministry, eclipse prayers were held in the main mosques in all inhabited islands, with the prayers held at the Islamic Centre in Malé.
The prayers began at 11:53pm Friday night, when the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse was most visible. The eclipse ended past 1:53am.
Delivering the eclipse prayer sermon at the Islamic Centre, the Imam reminded everyone that eclipses were a time to seek the Almighty’s forgiveness.
img:http://s4.psmnews.mv/images/660x400/14740177113595.jpg|A lunar eclipse - FILE Photo: Xinhua
According to Nature World News, a penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon swiftly passes through the dimmer, fainter outer part of the Earth's shadow. And because of its nature, it can be mistaken as a full moon.
This year's penumbral lunar eclipse, also called the harvest moon, was visible in most regions of Asia and in some parts of Africa and Europe.
According to astronomers, it was the last harvest moon eclipse of any kind that we’ll see until 2024.