Lunar Eclipse 2023: Know First Chandra Grahan Date, Time, Types And Visibility

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Watching lunar eclipses are like seeing beauty in action, even though only half of the earth is able to witness it. When these celestial events occur you are always in for a treat with or without a telescope. This rare event doesn't happen on a monthly basis and therefore, so to witness this spectacular event of beauty, you need to be aware of the date, time and visibility.

Eclipses are never considered auspicious in astrology, but it is a magnificent celestial events in astronomy. A lunar eclipse is associated with the Moon and it is believed that it also brings uncertainty, difficulties, and impediments in life. Moon is associated with mood, mentality, emotions, and thoughts and therefore, it touches a lot of lives. Also, this year, the first Lunar Eclipse will coincide with Buddha Purnima which holds a religious significance in Indian culture.

Lunar Eclipse 2023: Know Chandra Grahan Date, Time And Visibility

This year, the first Lunar Eclipse (Penumbral lunar eclipse) will begin on 05 May 2023 at 08: 44 PM IST and will end at 01:01 AM IST on 6 May 2023. This will be visible in South/Eastern Europe, most of Asia, Australia, Africa, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Antarctica.

The second lunar eclipse will happen on 28 October 2023 at 04:24 pm in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, North/East South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic, and Antarctica. This time, the lunar eclipse will be visible from India as well.

Apart from two lunar eclipses, this year witnessed the first solar eclipse, which was a hybrid solar eclipse on 20 April 2023 and the final solar eclipse of 2023 will occur on 14 October 2023, which will be an annual solar eclipse.

Lunar Eclipse 2023: Types Of Chandra Grahan

According to NASA, lunar eclipses occur during the full moon phase when the Earth positions itself precisely between the Moon and the Sun. The Earth casts its shadow on the surface of the moon and dims it. Due to this, at times, the lunar surface appears striking red for the course of a few hours.

There are three different types of lunar eclipses:

1. Total Lunar Eclipse
When the moon moves into the umbra or the inner part of Earth's shadow, then some of the sunlight passing through the Earth's atmosphere reaches the surface of the Moon. Due to this, it becomes dim. While colours with short wavelengths scatter easily and appear as blues and violets and the ones with long wavelengths appear as orange and red. It is only the longer wavelengths that pass the Earth's atmosphere and make the moon appear orangish or reddish during a lunar eclipse.

2. Partial Lunar Eclipse
This lunar eclipse can be defined as an imperfect alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon. Due to this, the Moon passes through only part of Earth's umbra. As a result, the shadow grows and then recedes without ever completely covering the Moon.

3. Penumbral Eclipse
You need to be aware of the Penumbral eclipse, or else there is a chance that you won't even know when this one is happening and probably miss it too. During this lunar eclipse, the Moon travels through Earth's penumbra or the faint outer part of its shadow. Due to this, the Moon dims so slightly that it is very hard to notice.