Partial lunar eclipse this week will be visible in India: Everything you need to know

What happens during a lunar eclipse?

Lunar eclipses happen when the Earth is positioned exactly between the Moon and the Sun. This causes our planet’s shadow to fall on the Moon’s surface, partially dimming it in the case of a total eclipse, turning the Moon a red colour.

What is the difference between a total and partial lunar eclipse?

The lunar eclipse happening on October 29 is a partial lunar eclipse, which means that the Sun, Earth and Moon are aligned imperfectly. This means only part of the Moon will pass through the Earth’s umbra (the dark part of its shadow) This shadow will grow before reaching a peak and then start shrinking.

But if it was a total lunar eclipse, the shadow would have grown until it completely enveloped the Moon. At this point, the only light reaching the Moon would be the light that travels through Earth’s atmosphere. Our planet’s atmosphere scatters the shorter wavelengths of light—the blues and the violets—in a process known as Rayleigh scattering. This means that the redder wavelengths of the Sun’s light reach the Moon and reflect of it, giving it the characteristic “Blood Moon” appearance.

How can you watch a lunar eclipse?

Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is safe to view directly without any eye protection. If you want to catch a better view, you can also use a telescope or a pair of binoculars.

When will the next lunar eclipse in India after the October 29 one?

After the October 29 eclipse, the next lunar eclipse visible in the country will happen on September 7, 2025. That is going to be a total lunar eclipse.

When was the last eclipse visible in India?

Before this, the last eclipse that was visible in the country happened on November 8, 2022.