Stargazers are in for a treat! The first total lunar eclipse of the year will take place on May 26 but it will be visible in the country for a short span from northeastern India, some parts of West Bengal, coastal parts of Odisha and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But this is going to be an especially superlunar event, as it will be a supermoon, a lunar eclipse and a red blood moon all at once.
Total Lunar Eclipse on May 26
This will be the first total Lunar Eclipse since January 21, 2019 and it will be a supermoon.
A lunar eclipse occurs on a full moon day when the Earth comes in between the Sun and the Moon and when all the three objects are aligned.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the whole Moon comes under the umbral shadow of the Earth and the partial lunar eclipse occurs when only a part of the Moon comes under the umbral shadow of the Earth.
Total Lunar Eclipse 2021 visibility
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the eclipse will also be visible in the region covering South America, North America, Asia, Australia, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
"A total eclipse of the Moon will occur on May 26, 2021 (5 Jyaistha, 1943 Saka Era). From India, just after moonrise, ending of partial phase of the eclipse will be visible for a short span of time from north-eastern parts of India (except Sikkim), some parts of West Bengal, some coastal parts of Odisha and Andaman and Nicobar Islands," read an official statement.
Lunar Eclipse in India: When, where, how to watch
The eclipse will be seen in Agartala, Aizawl, Kolkata, Cherrapunji, Cooch Behar, Diamond Harbour, Digha, Guwahati, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohima, Lumding, Malda, North Lakhimpur, Paradeep, Pashighat, Port Blair, Puri, Shillong, Sibsagar and Silchar.
The partial phase of the eclipse will begin at 3:15 pm and the total phase will begin at 4:39 pm. The total phase will end at 4:58 pm and the partial phase will end at 6:23 pm.
The eclipse can be seen from Port Blair from 5.38 pm and viewed for 45 minutes, the longest time. It can be seen from Puri and Malda from 6.21 pm but can only be viewed for two minutes.
The next lunar eclipse will be visible from India on November 19, 2021. It will be a partial lunar eclipse.
The ending of the partial phase of which will be visible for a very short span of time just after moonrise from extreme north-eastern parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
