Patna: A total lunar eclipse will be visible across India on September 7, coinciding with Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha Purnima. The phenomenon, often referred to as a “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange tint the moon takes on when it passes entirely into the Earth’s shadow, will also be visible across Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, Antarctica and much of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
In India, the lunar eclipse will begin at 9.58pm and conclude at 1.26am on September 8, with totality lasting from 11.01pm to 11.42pm. The partial eclipse will span three hours and 28 minutes, while the penumbral phase will last for more than five hours. The magnitude of the eclipse has been calculated at 1.36.
Because the event will be visible in India, the Sutak period – a traditional observance in Hinduism during which religious activities are suspended – will also apply. The Sutak will begin nine hours before the start of the eclipse, at 12.19pm, and end at 1.26am on September 8. For children, elderly people and those who are unwell, Sutak is observed from 6.36pm. Temples typically close their doors during this period.
