Bihar: Partial Lunar Eclipse to Grace the Night Skies on October 28-29 

PATNA: Stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts in India are in for a celestial treat as a partial lunar eclipse is set to grace the night skies on the night of October 28-29 (6-7 Kartika, 1945 Saka Era). The event will witness the Moon entering the penumbra at midnight on the 28th of October, with the umbral phase commencing in the early hours of the 29th.

The eclipse is expected to be visible from all parts of India around midnight, creating a captivating spectacle for skywatchers. The astronomical phenomenon will also be observable across a vast region encompassing the Western Pacific Ocean, Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, eastern South America, north–eastern North America, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the South Pacific Ocean.

Providing insights into the eclipse, Ashish Kumar, Director at IMD Patna, shared, “The umbral phase of this eclipse is scheduled to begin at 01 hr. 05 min IST on the 29th of October and will gracefully conclude at 02h 24m IST. The duration of the Eclipse will span 1 hour and 19 minutes, with a very small magnitude of 0.126.”

Kumar added, “It’s noteworthy that the next lunar eclipse visible from India is anticipated on 07 September 2025, and it will be a total lunar eclipse. The last lunar eclipse visible from India occurred on 8 November 2022, marked as a total eclipse.”

Lunar eclipses occur on a full moon day when the Earth aligns between the Sun and the Moon, resulting in the moon entering the Earth’s shadow. A total lunar eclipse transpires when the entire moon enters the umbral shadow of the Earth, while a partial lunar eclipse occurs when only a portion of the moon falls under the Earth’s shadow.

Skywatchers and astronomy enthusiasts are encouraged to seize the opportunity to witness this celestial marvel, which promises to be a mesmerizing event under the night sky.