Lunar Eclipse: It is going to be an almost total lunar eclipse today. The most interesting part is that it will take place after a long gap of 580 years.
Skygazers will be able to see it when the moon will slip into the earth’s shadow. It will appear in a reddish hue.
This will also be the last lunar eclipse of the year and the longest one too in nearly 600 years.
The lunar eclipse begins at 1.02 am EST on November 19, Friday or say around 11.32 am Indian standard time and goes on till 7.04 am or around 5:34 pm IST.
As per NASA, this will be the longest partial lunar eclipse in a millennium. The last lunar eclipse had occurred on February 18, 1440.
It will be visible only in the northeast part of India. People can also watch the live stream of the eclipse.
India will only experience a total eclipse on November 8, 2022.
In India, some parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam will see the view of the lunar eclipse. Other states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand might also see the end part of the eclipse.
The best viewing time as per NASA will be right around the peak of the eclipse at 4:03 AM EST or 2.30 pm IST.
Moon Is Moving Away From Us- The Earth!
Why is it an ‘Almost Total Lunar Eclipse?’
It is so one because nearly 99.1 per cent of the Moon’s disk will be within earth’s umbra or say the darkest part of earth’s shadow.
The lunar eclipse takes place when Sun, Earth, and Moon align into one line. In a total eclipse full Moon is covered by the earth’s shadow.
In countries where the eclipse is visible, the moon will turn red.
Why Moon turns Red?
Due to the Rayleigh scattering. It is because blue light has a shorter wavelength, red light has a longer wavelength. Thus, it can travel more directly through the atmosphere.
And since the earth is blocking the sun’s path towards the moon, sunlight has to travel through our planet’s atmosphere to reach it.
Hence, only red light is able to reach the moon, that is why it takes on a reddish hue. It will be a treat for sky gazers today. So, don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to praise mother nature.
ALSO READ | Longest Partial Lunar Eclipse To Hit The World After 580 Years: Here’s When, Where And How
