Skywatchers’ delight: Moon will appear red on Sunday night for over 5 hours
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): On Sunday night, you will get to see a wonderful celestial sight in the sky. The moon which usually appears white or light brown will appear dark red this time due to lunar eclipse. The moon will change its colour several times due to coming in the shadow of the earth and will present a very attractive sight.
In Delhi, this lunar eclipse will start at 8:58 pm and will last till 2:25 am. That means people will witness this celestial event for 5 hours and 27 minutes. Special preparations have been made in many cities including Delhi and Nainital to see it.
How will the colour of the moon change?
In the first phase of the eclipse, the moonlight will gradually fade. This fade will increase from 8:58 pm to 9:57 pm. After this, the deep shadow of the earth will start falling on the moon and by 11 pm the moon will be completely covered. During this time its colour will first turn orange and then deep red. After some time it will again appear orange in colour.
The last phase of the eclipse will be completed at 1:25 pm. After this, the moon will again appear slightly blurred in the sub-shadow phase and this blur will completely end by 2:25 am.
Cause of Blood Moon
According to Dr. Shashi Bhushan Pandey, senior astronomer of Aryabhatta Observational Science Research Institute (ARIES) located in Nainital, during a total lunar eclipse, the moon looks like sunrise and sunset. Actually, the Sun, Earth and Moon come in a straight line. During this, the sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere, where the blue light gets scattered and the red light reaches the moon. Due to this, the moon turns red, which is called "Blood Moon".
Next full lunar eclipse
This time the lunar eclipse will be the last full lunar eclipse of the year. The next full lunar eclipse will be visible on 2 March 2026. After this, this sequence will continue on 31 December 2028, 25 June 2029 and 25 April 2032.
There is no effect of Sutak on Shradh Karma.
This lunar eclipse will take place on the night of Bhadrapad Purnima. Pitru Paksha is also starting from this day. On Sunday, Shradh of Purnima and Tarpan of ancestors of maternal clan will be done. Learned Pandits of Kashi say that the Sutak of lunar eclipse has no effect on the Shradh Karma of Pitru Paksha