Total Moon Eclipse on Jan 31

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : A total eclipse of the moon will occur on January 31, 2018.  This is the first eclipse of the year with a rare coincidence of a blue moon and a super full moon. The full moon on that day happens to be the second full moon of the calendar month of January termed as a blue moon.

The full moon will occur when the moon is near closest to earth in its orbit. Hence, this full moon will be a little bigger and brighter than the regular full moon popularly referred to as a super moon.

During totality, the moon will completely enter the earth’s umbral shadow and may look reddish. The eclipse will begin as a partial eclipse from 5-6 pm and will continue up to 8.42 pm. The total eclipse will start from 6.21 pm and end at 7.38 pm.

The duration of the eclipse will be 3 hour and 24 mts and the duration of totality will be 1 hour and 17 mts.  The ending of the total and partial phases of the eclipse will be visible from all places of India. However, the entire eclipse, from beginning to end of the partial and total phases, will be visible only from north eastern part of the country including Kolkata.

The beginning of the partial phase will not be visible from the rest part of the country, as the partial eclipse will start before the moonrise timings of the most of the places of India. Similarly, the beginning of the totality phases of the eclipse will not be visible from the places along the extreme western coast of the country including Mumbai, according to a PIB release.

The next eclipse of the Moon will occur on July 27-28, 2018, which will be a total lunar eclipse and will be visible in India.