PETALING JAYA: Sky-watchers in Kelantan will have a chance to observe a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday (May 26).

Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad was quoted by Harian Metro as saying that the total lunar eclipse could be seen starting from 7.11pm on that day.

A lunar eclipse happens when the moon briefly becomes covered by the Earth’s shadow – which happens when the Earth aligns itself between the moon and the sun.

According to Shukri, the peak of the lunar eclipse will be fully visible from 7.18pm to 7.25pm on Wednesday.

“Since we are now in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state Mufti department will not organise any programmes for the sighting of the lunar eclipse,” he said Monday (May 24).

“We urge the public to perform special lunar eclipse prayers, listen to the sermon and watch the phenomenon in their own homes,” he added.

He explained that the last total lunar eclipse sighting took place on Jan 21,2019, adding that Kelantan had witnessed a partial lunar eclipse on July 17,2019.