Earth will pass between the Sun and the Moon in two weeks, on November 19 (Kartik Purnima), casting a shadow on the Moon’s surface. This month, astronomers and amateur skywatchers will witness the longest lunar eclipse of the century.
The face of the Moon is lit by sunlight reflected off its surface. The Moon, Sun, and Earth, on the other hand, align in a straight line during a lunar eclipse. Because the Earth prevents sunlight from reaching the moon, the lunar object looks to have been consumed by Earth. During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth’s cone-shaped shadow, known as the umbra, obscures 100 percent of the Moon.
The lunar eclipse will last 3 hours, 28 minutes, and 23 seconds, according to NASA, which will be the longest eclipse in the 100 years between 2001 and 2100.
Earth will see a total of 228 lunar eclipses in the twenty-first century. In most months, there will be two lunar eclipses, however, three eclipses are possible.
Only places where the Moon is above the horizon can see lunar eclipses. The event should be seen across India’s northeastern states, including Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. North Americans will be in the best position to see the entire action. It will be visible in all 50 US states as well as Mexico. Australia, East Asia, Northern Europe, and the Pacific Ocean region will all see it.
When The Lunar Eclipse will Take Place?
According to NASA, the near-total lunar eclipse will peak shortly after 8:00 a.m. UTC, when the Earth will obscure 97 percent of the full moon from the Sun’s rays. The moon will turn a reddish hue during this beautiful celestial occurrence. In some places of India, it will be visible.