India to see its last lunar eclipse for a couple of years on October 29; Here’s all you need to know

A partial lunar eclipse is set to grace the night sky on the weekend of October 28-29, offering a celestial spectacle visible from all regions of India. While the Moon will begin its journey into Earth’s penumbra on Saturday at midnight, the umbral phase, a more pronounced phase of the eclipse, is anticipated to commence during the early hours of Sunday.

Lunar eclipses occur during a full moon when the Earth positions itself between the Sun and the Moon, creating an alignment of these three celestial bodies.

A total lunar eclipse takes place when the entire Moon falls under Earth’s umbral shadow, while a partial lunar eclipse occurs when only a portion of the Moon is obscured by Earth’s shadow.

During partial eclipses, the shadow on the Moon’s surface typically appears quite dark, but the visual experience from Earth depends on the precise alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

This partial lunar eclipse is not limited to India; it will also be visible from various other regions, including the Western Pacific Ocean, Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, eastern South America, northeastern North America, and vast stretches of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and South Pacific Ocean.

The duration of this celestial event will span 1 hour and 19 minutes. The umbral phase of the eclipse will commence at 1:05AM Indian Standard Time (IST) on Saturday and conclude at 2:24AM IST.

It’s worth noting that this lunar eclipse will be the last one visible from India for at least a couple of years. The next lunar eclipse, scheduled to be a total lunar eclipse, will grace the Indian skies on September 7, 2025, while the next partial lunar eclipse is approximately three years away.

The most recent lunar eclipse visible from India occurred on November 8, 2022, and it was a total eclipse, offering a remarkable celestial display for skywatchers.