The sky over India is preparing for a dramatic shift. While many across the country were disappointed to miss the Ring of Fire solar eclipse on February 17, the cosmos is about to offer a brilliant consolation prize.
A total lunar eclipse will take place, and this time, the geography of the Earth is in our favour.
WHAT IS A LUNAR ECLIPSE, AND WHEN CAN INDIA WITNESS IT?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth slides directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its massive shadow across the lunar surface.
Unlike solar eclipses, which are only visible from a narrow path, lunar eclipses can be seen from anywhere on the night side of Earth.
On March 3, the observable part of the eclipse in India will be brief but beautiful.
In cities like New Delhi and Noida, the Moon will rise, already partially eclipsed at 6:22 pm IST.
The visible phase will reach its peak at 6:27 pm IST and conclude by 6:47 pm IST.
WHY DID INDIA MISS THE SOLAR ECLIPSE?
Solar eclipses are notoriously picky about where they show up. During the Ring of Fire event, the Moon was at its farthest point from Earth, or apogee, making it appear too small to cover the Sun completely.
Because the Moon is relatively small, it casts a very narrow shadow. To see it, you must be standing along a specific, thin path on the Earth’s surface.
During the annular solar eclipse, that path skipped the Indian subcontinent entirely, leaving us in the dark only in a metaphorical sense.
HOW DO CELESTIAL MECHANICS WORK?
An eclipse is essentially a cosmic game of shadows. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon slides between the Sun and Earth. Conversely, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon.
On March 3, the Earth will cast its massive shadow, known as the umbra, across the lunar surface.
When the Earth’s umbral shadow completely covers the Moon, a total lunar eclipse occurs. India will witness a total lunar eclipse on March 3.
Because the Earth is much larger than the Moon, its shadow is broad enough to be visible from nearly half the planet at once.
This is why lunar eclipses are far more common to witness from a single location than solar ones.
WILL THE MOON TURN RED OVER INDIA?
As the Moon enters the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow, it does not just disappear. Instead, it often takes on a deep, rusty red hue. This happens because of Rayleigh scattering.
This is why a total lunar eclipse is also known as a Blood Moon.
The Earth’s atmosphere bends the Sun’s light, filtering out the blue tones and allowing only the longer red wavelengths to pass through and reflect off the Moon.
If you are watching from India, expect the spectacle to begin as the Moon rises, provided the skies remain clear.
