Eclipses are special celestial phenomena that involve the Earth, Sun and the Moon. Depending upon which celestial body is covered; eclipses are divided into two prime categories- solar and lunar. It is common knowledge that the Moon has no light of its own and it shines because it reflects the light of the Sun that falls upon it. In solar eclipse, the moon moves in the line of the Sun and Earth, covering a part of the Sun, such that the only source of light in the solar system is dimmed, making it dark during the day.
A lunar eclipse is caused by the Earth coming in between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the light of the Sun that falls on the moon. The moon thus appears dull because of the small portion of it that is darkened by the Earth. A lunar eclipse can take place on the night of a full moon only.
In Hindu culture, an eclipse is considered to be inauspicious because it is believed that the demon God Rahu holds the Sun and the moon both by mouth which releases a lot of negative energy in the cosmos. Looking directly at it, eating, sleeping, drinking or having intercourse during an eclipse is proscribed in the Hindu tradition.
In some cultures it is also advised to take a bath with cold water with clothes on after the eclipse ends so that the body gets rid of the negative elements that it is exposed during the eclipse.
Scientists, however, say that food items may be exposed to UV rays during this time but drinking, sleeping or engaging in intercourse is as normal as it is on a normal day.
Primarily, Lunar Eclipses can be divided into three categories- a partial lunar eclipse, a penumbral lunar eclipse, and a total lunar eclipse. A partial Lunar eclipse occurs when a part of the moon is blocked by the Earth’s shadow so that light from the Sun reaches only a partially thereby illuminating the moon partially.
In a penumbral lunar eclipse, the outer part of the Earth’s shadow, called the ‘umbra’ falls on the moon, and this eclipse is more subtle as compared to the other two. In a total lunar eclipse, the Earth, Sun and the Moon are in a perfectly straight line and the shadow of the Earth covers the Moon completely so that no light is reflected by the moon. In such a situation, the only light coming from the Moon is the light refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere and is red in colour.
Due to this red effect, the eclipse moon is also called Blood Moon. This is a beautiful natural event and one such eclipse will be observed on 18-19 November.
The eclipse taking place in the upcoming two days will be a very special event because it is one of a kind that will be the longest partial lunar eclipse in 580 years, ie. nearly six centuries.
It will be three hours and twenty-eight minutes long, starting at 12:48 PM and ending at 4:17 PM. It will be visible from North America, South America, eastern Asia, Australia and the Pacific region. Parts of North-East India including Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will also be able to witness the eclipse.
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