BANGKOK, 7 June 2011 – The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) under the supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology has invited all Thai people to view a total lunar eclipse on 16 June 2011, from 1.22 hrs to 4.03 hrs.
According to NARIT Deputy Director Dr Saran Poshyachinda, the upcoming total lunar eclipse will be the first in four years after the phenomenon was last seen on 3 March 2007. Moreover, the lunar eclipse will last for three hours and 39 minutes, which will be the longest ever.
The moon will start passing behind the earth at 1.22 hrs. The sun, the earth and the moon will be exactly aligned causing a total lunar eclipse from 2.22 hrs until 4.03 hrs.
The total lunar eclipse will clearly be visible in every region of the kingdom. The next lunar eclipse will occur on 10 December 2011, the Constitution Day of Thailand.
