Partial lunar eclipse to occur on guru purnima after 149 years

• Many parts of the world will be able to witness a partial lunar eclipse including India. Apart from India, the partial lunar eclipse is going to be visible in most regions of Asia and Europe, Africa, Australia, and South America.
• For the first time, after 149 years, the Chandra Grahan (lunar eclipse) will coincide with Guru Purnima on 16 July.
• It is a festival celebrated by Hindus and Buddhist where they pay respect and show their gratitude to their spiritual and academic teachers.

Lunar Eclipse

• When Moon passes exactly behind the Earth and into its shadow a lunar eclipse occurs.
• It happens when the Sun, Moon and the Earth come exactly or very closely aligned.
• It is also important to know that a lunar eclipse occurs only on the full moon night.
• It is also important to know that length and type of a lunar eclipse depend on the Moon’s proximity to either node of its orbit.

What is partial lunar eclipse?

• A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and Moon but the three celestial bodies do not form a straight line in space.
• When that happens, a small part of the Moon’s surface is covered by the darkest, central part of the Earth’s shadow, called the umbra.

Types of Lunar Eclipse

• When Earth casts its shadow on the Moon a lunar eclipse occurs. This shadow has two types of shadows called umbra and penumbra. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely passes through the umbra or when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are correctly aligned.
• Partial lunar eclipse occurs on the Earth when Moon partially crosses through the umbra and penumbra.
• When the Moon doesn’t fall in the umbera but present in the penumbra, a penumbral lunar eclipse occurs.

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