Longest total Lunar eclipse on July 27, know why you should not miss it

Hyderabad: The century’s longest lunar eclipse will occur on July 27/28. It will be the fourth among five eclipses (3 Solar & 2 Lunar) in the year 2018 along with once in 26 months Celestial event of “Mars Opposition to Sun”.

Planetary Society India (PSI) Director and Founder Secretary N Sri Raghunandan Kumar on Thursday said this eclipse is a Total Lunar Eclipse and Visible from Entire India. Across the world this Eclipse will be visible in the region Antarctica, Australasia, Russia except northernmost parts, Asia, Africa, Scandanavia, Europe, Central and Eastern South America.

He said, unlike previous 7 Years from 2011, this Eclipse in all its phases for second and last time in 2018 is visible from Entire India from beginning to end. Similar opportunity for entire country to witness a total Lunar Eclipse in one go would occur only in 2025.

Mr Kumar said the Eclipse in various phases begins at 10.45 p.m. on July 27 and ends at 4.59 a.m. on July 28. Wherein the noticeable Umbral phase begins at 11.54 p.m. and Ends at 3.49 a.m. Whereas from 1.00 a.m. to 2.43 a.m. the totality phase (Moon completely hidden in Umbra/Earth’s darker Shadow) occurs. In other words: Though astronomically speaking Eclipse begins at 10.45 p.m. with moon entering lighter Shadow of Earth. People can noticeably witness darkening (or leaving) of Moon’s disk by Earth Shadow between 11.54 p.m. on July 27 to 3.49 a.m on July 28, he added.

Mentioning about gist of  eclipses in 2018, the Total Lunar Eclipse had occurred on ( Jan 31, 2018) , Partial Solar Eclipse (February 16, 2018), Partial Solar Eclipse (July 13, 2018), Total Lunar Eclipse (July 27 2018)  and  Partial Solar Eclipse (August  11, 2018).

Why People should not miss this TOTAL Lunar Eclipse?

The next Total Lunar Eclipse will occur on January 21, 2019 but eclipse is in Morning hours hence we can’t see. Whereas Lunar Eclipse on July 17, 2019 is Partial Lunar Eclipse and visible partially.

Then in year 2020 all the lunar eclipses are penumbral not visible. And in year 2021, the Total Lunar Eclipse will occur on May 26 and  November 19 and it  will be partial Lunar Eclipse and both these eclipses are not visible.

The Planetary Society, India Director said, In 2022,  Lunar Eclipse on November 8 is Total but visible partial but only in the last part when its leaving subject to moon is above horizon in cities other than Hyderabad.

In the Year 2023, a Partial Lunar Eclipse will occur on October 28 which is visible in Partial phase across India.

In  the Year 2024, there are two Lunar Eclipses but none of them are visible in India. Lastly in 2025 on March 14 there is total lunar eclipse but it’s not visible in India. Whereas on September 7, 2025 as Total Lunar Eclipse occurs and it is the only time when Eclipse is visible all over India.

He said on Friday a celestial phenomenon of “Mars Opposition to Sun” will occur. Due to which Sun-Earth- Mars would be in opposite to each other from our perspective. As a result when Sun set’s Mars rises being visible all through night and in Morning when Sun rises Mars Sets. And due this event Mars will be closest it can get to earth on July 31, 2018. And on July 27, Mars can be found below toward right side due to another event called Conjunction. So people can spot Mars as bright redish non-twinkling star like object in the sky for many months to come.

Considering various celestial events &  Chandryaan II launch PSI, invites schools to host “Kalam Observation Center” for observation & outreach activities. Visit www.ournewplanets.info for details, Mr Kumar added. (UNI)