Unusual lunar, solar eclipses to take place during Ramadan

This Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar will witness an unusual celestial event – the occurrence of solar and lunar eclipses in the same month.

However, residents in the UAE will be able to witness only a partial lunar eclipse in the middle of the month, and will not see the solar eclipse.

According to an Abu Dhabi-based amateur astronomer, the occurrence of both eclipses during Ramadan happens only every 20 to 23 years.

Ibrahim Obaidullah, head of the Emirates Heritage Club's Amateur Astronomers Group, told Gulf News that in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and most of the Western Hemisphere the total lunar eclipse in the early morning of November 9 will last just 24 minutes.