Solar eclipse is paired with lunar eclipse within fortnight

The total solar eclipse that passed over Argentina and Chile on July 2 has triggered the arrival of a lunar eclipse.

According to EarthSky.org website, the two eclipses always come in pairs within a fortnight, about two weeks.

Earlier this year partial solar eclipse happened on January 6 and it was followed by a total lunar eclipse on January 21.

The next lunar eclipse is on July 16 when the moon will return back to its Full Moon phase. The sun at this time will cast a shadow onto its orbit.

NASA says the July 16 lunar eclipse will be a partial eclipse and more than half of the moon will be covered by the shadow.

The time of partial lunar eclipse will unfold at 7:43pm BST. At 10:30pm BST the eclipse will be at the peak.

It will be visible from Africa, India, Italy and Middle East. In the UK the eclipse will be visible only at moonrise.

NASA said, “During a lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight falling on the Moon.”

The last total lunar eclipse was on January 21, 2019.

The last total solar eclipse was on August 21, 2017.