Oct 28, 2023, 08:58 PM IST
October has been a month of celestial wonder with various astronomical events, and it's not over yet. The second eclipse of the month is set for October 29.
This lunar eclipse is happening just 14 days after the solar eclipse on October 14 and will be a partial eclipse caused by the alignment of the moon, Earth, and the sun.
Lunar eclipses happen during a full moon when the moon, Earth, and the sun align, causing Earth's shadow to cover a portion of the moon's surface, giving it a reddish hue.
Partial lunar eclipses occur when Earth partially obstructs the sun's light from reaching the full moon.
The upcoming partial lunar eclipse will be visible primarily in the Eastern Hemisphere, encompassing Africa, Europe, Asia, and some parts of Australia.
Unfortunately, the eclipse will not be visible in the Americas, except for a potential glimpse from the eastern coast of Brazil during moonrise.
The partial lunar eclipse is scheduled to begin around 18:01 GMT (2:01 pm EDT) on Saturday, October 28.
The most exciting phase will commence at approximately 19:35 GMT (3:35 pm EDT) when the Earth's darker inner shadow, known as the umbra, starts to cover the lunar disk.
According to the Ministry of Science in India, the eclipse falls on October 28-29, corresponding to the Hindu calendar's 6-7 Kartika 1945 Saka Era. The moon will enter the penumbra on October 28 and the umbral phase early on October 29.
The partial lunar eclipse will be visible in India, starting around midnight, with a duration of 1 hour and 19 minutes. The umbral phase is expected to begin at 1:05 am IST on October 29 and conclude at 2:24 am IST.