'Blood Moon' Stuns India! Nation Marvels At Nature's Wonder

Tonight, India joined Asia, Africa, Australia, and parts of Europe in marveling at a total lunar eclipse, a celestial spectacle that transformed the full moon into a striking "blood moon."

The event, visible across the country, captivated skywatchers from Kolkata to Delhi, Mumbai to Chennai, as the moon passed through Earth’s shadow for nearly five hours. In Kolkata, the eclipse began at 8:58 pm, with the moon entering Earth’s penumbral shadow, subtly dimming its glow. By 9:57 pm, a partial eclipse was underway, and at 11:00 pm, the moon was fully engulfed in the umbral shadow, turning a vivid copper-red.

This total phase lasted until 12:22 am, followed by a gradual return to its bright white by 1:26 am, with the penumbral phase ending at 2:25 am. The reddish hue, caused by sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere, was particularly vivid near the horizon, as noted by astrophysicists. In Delhi, astronomy clubs organized viewings at India Gate, where families and students gathered with telescopes.

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Mumbai’s Nehru Planetarium hosted a live stream, engaging thousands online, while Chennai’s beaches saw enthusiasts capturing the event on smartphones. In rural areas, such as villages in Rajasthan and Odisha, communities gathered on open fields, blending traditional folklore with modern curiosity about the “blood moon.”

The Birla Industrial and Technological Museum in Kolkata offered a three-hour telescope demonstration, drawing crowds of students and space enthusiasts. Similar events unfolded nationwide, with observatories in Bengaluru and Hyderabad reporting high attendance. This eclipse, the longest total lunar eclipse since 2022, highlighted India’s growing passion for astronomy, uniting urban and rural skywatchers in a shared moment of cosmic wonder. 

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