Doha, Qatar: A lunar eclipse will occur in the early hours of Friday, August 28, 2026, Sheikh Salman bin Jabor Al Thani, President of the Qatar Center for Space Sciences and Astronomy, has said, while cautioning the public against myths and misinformation that may circulate around astronomical phenomena.
The President of the Qatar Center for Space Sciences and Astronomy also provided more information regarding the eclipse on a video message published on his social media.
“On Friday morning at dawn, God willing, we will have a penumbral lunar eclipse. This means the Moon will not enter Earth's direct shadow, but rather the edge of Earth's shadow,” he said.
“During the dawn hours, if we observe the Moon, it starts at approximately 4:23 AM. The peak will occur around 4:57 AM, 5:07 AM, or 5:11 AM, and the Moon sets at 5:11 AM. So we will just about be able to notice a change in the shadow.”
He added that the time duration will naturally be very short.
Sheikh Salman, during his interview with Al Rayyan TV, said social media posts sometimes emerge ahead of astronomical events linking them to unfounded beliefs and practices.
He urged the public not to be misled by such myths and misinformation and to rely on scientific information when following astronomical phenomena.
In a separate discussion on weather forecasting, Sheikh Salman explained that meteorological forecasts are generally accurate within a timeframe of up to 72 hours, while their accuracy decreases as the forecast period extends.
He noted that weather conditions beyond 72 hours cannot be predicted with certainty, adding that even forecasts issued within that period remain subject to change.
Weather conditions can undergo sudden changes that affect forecasts, he said, noting that meteorological authorities now issue updates every few hours to keep pace with changing conditions, compared with updates every 12 hours in the past.
Sheikh Salman also cautioned against individuals who use long-range weather predictions to alarm the public, urging people not to rely on forecasts that claim to determine weather conditions far in advance.
