Explore Business Standard
Associate Sponsors
Co-sponsor
Lunar Eclipse
Four eclipse events including a total solar eclipse would occur in 2023 and two of them would be visible in India, an astronomy expert said here on Wednesday. There would be two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses, said Dr Rajendra Prakash Gupt, Superintendent of Ujjain's Government Jiwaji Observatory. The celestial events will start with a total solar eclipse on April 20. "But it will not be visible from India," Dr Gupt said. It will be followed by a 'penumbral' lunar eclipse on the intervening night of May 5-6 which will be visible in India, he said. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through penumbra or lighter part of Earth's shadow, and sunlight falling on the Moon appears to be partially cut off. The Moon remains visible, but with less-than-usual brightness. The only 'annular solar eclipse' will take place on the intervening night of October 14 and 15, but it would not be visible in the country as it would happen at night. A partial lunar eclipse wou
Stargazers across the country were treated to a visual delight as the earth cast its shadow on the moon in the last total lunar eclipse of the year on Tuesday. Northeastern parts of the country such as Agartala, Kohima, and Guwahati were able to catch a glimpse of maximum obscuration of the lunar disc as the moon had already risen on the eastern horizon before the end of the totality phase at 5:12 pm. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the earth casts its shadow completely over a full moon, blocking reflection of all direct sunlight from the lunar orb and dimming the colour of the moon to a reddish hue. From most parts of India, stargazers could observe a partial lunar eclipse only as the moon rise timings across the country were during or after the total phase. Astronomy enthusiasts and star gazing clubs had set up telescopes across cities to watch the celestial phenomenon unfold. In Delhi, smog-filled sky denied stargazers the opportunity to view the eclipse at moon-rise and a ha
An eminent astrophysicist has called for treating eclipses as natural celestial events and not believe in superstitions surrounding these. Different parts of India and the world are set to witness a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, just a fortnight after a partial solar eclipse. Astrophysicist Debi Prasad Duari said it is unfortunate that people give credence to superstitions related to such natural celestial events despite the immense developments in space science and technology in the 21st century. "People should not believe in this sort of things and go ahead and treat it as just a natural celestial event," he said. Duari, a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and International Astronomical Union, said that superstitions surrounding a solar or lunar eclipse are prevalent not only in the country but also in different pockets across the world. In India, people do not eat or cook food during eclipses. Some do not even step out in the open during these celestial events. It i