India to witness rare total lunar eclipse tonight

Astronomers are urging people to step outside and enjoy the view, stressing there are no mythical “Rahu-Ketu” demons at play — only science and nature.

During this rare event, Earth’s shadow will slowly sweep across the Moon, transforming it into a glowing copper-red orb. NASA explains that such eclipses occur when the Earth aligns perfectly between the Sun and the Moon during a full moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface.

Though each eclipse is visible only from one half of the Earth, this one will be seen across India.

The process begins as the Moon moves into Earth’s faint penumbral shadow before entering the darker umbra.

As the shadow deepens, the Moon appears to dim, progressing into a partial eclipse.

Once it is fully engulfed in the umbra, the lunar disc glows crimson — the striking stage of totality.

The red tint occurs because sunlight, filtered through Earth’s atmosphere, scatters away blue wavelengths and bends the red ones onto the Moon.

Known as Rayleigh scattering, this effect paints the lunar surface in coppery hues.

For this eclipse, the total phase will last 82 minutes, giving skywatchers ample time to marvel.

By comparison, the eclipse of July 27, 2018, held the record with a 103-minute totality.

Eclipse timeline (Indian Standard Time)

Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 8:58 pm, Sept 7
Partial Eclipse Begins: 9:57 pm
Total Eclipse (Blood Moon): 11:01 pm to 12:23 am, Sept 8 (82 minutes)
Partial Eclipse Ends: 1:26 am
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 2:25 am