November 19: Get ready for the longest partial lunar eclipse in 580 years

On November 19, stargazers can partake in a fractional lunar overshadowing which will likewise be the last lunar obscuration of the year. The last time such an extended incomplete overshadowing happened was on February 18, 1440, and the following time a comparable one will happen on February 8, 2669.

A fractional lunar overshadowing happens when the Earth interferes with the Sun and the Moon, however not in an ideal line. A little piece of the moon gets covered by the Earth’s shadow and we can see a ruddy Moon. It is additionally called the ice moon or beaver moon. Full moons in November procured this name as this is the hour of first snowfall and ice, and beavers begin fabricating their dams or traps.The halfway lunar overshadowing will be noticeable from North America, South America, Eastern Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Region.

In India, a little piece of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam will encounter the fractional overshadowing, and those from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand can see the end part of the penumbral obscuration. A penumbral lunar overshadowing happens when the Moon, Sun, and Earth are incompletely adjusted and the Moon travels through the external piece of Earth’s shadow called the obscuration.

Dr Debiprosad Duari, Director, Research and Academic at MP Birla Planetarium, Kolkata clarifies: “The fractional overshadowing will begin around 12:48 IST and will end at 16:17 IST. The length of the fractional overshadowing subsequently will be for 3hrs 28 minutes and 24 seconds, making it the longest shroud of the 21st century and the longest in practically last 600 years.””The penumbral obscuration going before and succeeding the umbral incomplete overshadowing will start at around 11:32 IST and end at 17:33 IST. At the greatest incomplete overshadowing, at around 14:34 IST, 97% of the Moon will be covered by the Earth’s shadow and the Moon might give off an impression of being crimson in shading, which happens when the red piece of the daylight goes through the Earth’s environment get least avoided and falls on the Moon giving it a ruddy hint.”